Best CD Player under $1200

Esound E5

Agree with Mcpody. You should also consider the early Cary 300-100 or the Resolution Audio CD-55. Both are as good as you'll find at this price point.

Hard to say what is best--there are so many!!! The best I have heard new at that price is the Soundquest SQ-12.The Music Hall 25 mk.II is excellent at half that price.You should also be able to get the Raysonic 128 used for $1200-$1300.

Here are my rankings of CD players I have had from "best" to "worst" in MY system. Your mileage may vary:

Sound Quest SQ-12
Consonance CD-120
Cambridge Audio 640C (v1)
Arcam CD-73T
Music Hall CD-25 (v1)
Rega Planet 2000
Original Rega Planet
AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000

I were adding a CD player to any of my second systems I'd prefer to get another SQ-12. But, given that money doesn't seem to be growing on trees at my house, depending on the system I was putting it in (matching sound of player to the system), and price I could get it for, I would happily purchase any of these again - except the Njoe Tjoeb (not sure I'd take one if I were getting it for free, no offense intended to the Njoe Tjoeb fans out there).

Enjoy!
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audio aero prima - around $1200