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Old guy needs recommendation request for old CD players / DAC

I plan to use one of the following old CD players in my audio system and would like to know your recommendations on which one will provide better sonics and whether to use the DAC as well. The player will be used in an all-tube Conrad Johnson rig.

JVC XLZ-1050TN CD player (built like a battleship and highly reviewed in its time)
Oppo 980H DVD/CD player (also highly rated in its day)

MyDac DAC by Micromega

Thanks!

(pardon the heading, but I can't seem to remove the word 'request')

p_wolfe
jazzguy43
32 posts
 

find yourself a nice ARCAM CD37!!!!! you will be very happy w/it.

audio-union's avatar
audio-union
179 posts
 

I am the CEC distributor for the America's. I suggest you read the Marc Phillips recent review of DA5 and TL5 at Part Time Audiophile. 

 

geurds's avatar
geurds
9 posts
 

ANY Esoteric transport cd is RIGHT ON !

1971gto455ho's avatar
1971gto455ho
407 posts
 

I use a TEAC PD-600 well rated, solid, no frills unit. If you want to play cd’s this unit Pales many others of considerably higher MSRP. 
 

Cheers

ejr1953
895 posts
 

I'm not sure I'd go for an "old" CD player, unless the price was the main driver for the purchase.  An "old" unit would not only have hours on the parts that fail, it would also have an old DAC, something that's been greatly improved over time.

In my experience, the thing that needs repair on CD players is the mechanical disk handling part.  I've had to have that part fail in a Yamaha CD player and an NAD Masters Series SACD player, and in the case of the Yamaha, the repair cost was very close to the full list price, so I declined that repair.

Oppo got out of the CD/SACD business, hence I upgraded my PS Audio transport to the new model which uses the part from D+M (Denon & Marantz), which (hopefully) will be available in the future.

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