any opinions about the bat vk d5 cd player ?

I have both so here is my take. The BAT in the 6922/6dj8 has more of a honey glow to the music than the Cary. The Cary has more detail and more deep low end extension. I would say that perhaps the best description is the BAT has what I would call the classic tube sound of the 60's, while the Cary sounds like you went thru a 60's unit and updated caps, resistors and other parts. Email me if you need to know more.

I had both the VKD5 and the VKD5SE.

Both are players that are easy to live with long-term. The D5SE had a bit more bass extension. The D5 was a shade warmer than the SE, however both players are "warm".

Best,

Paul :-)

Another CD player in that class ( though soild sate ) would be Wadia 301 or 302 if you can find one. I think tihs one does it better than both of the fore mentioned.

I agree with Waltfarr and Beemer about both the BAT and the Cary. I have the Cary and auditioned the BAT. They are both quality players, with the BAT definitely the more euphonic and 60s-sounding--which, to me, is a good thing. The Cary is more resolving and more tweakable with tube-rolling, but it doesn't have that "honey-glow" that Waltfarr identifies as the BAT's audio character.