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Best Sounding CD / SACD player under 15K

My budget is 15K for a new or preowned CD/SACD player.

Not happy with the McIntosh MCD-500 player. My vintage Denon CD player out performs it. I was very disappointed in the McIntosh MCD500 player. I had the McIntosh MC601 amps and they were disappointing too. No more McIntosh gear for me.

I am on the market now and would like to keep under 15K for a new or preowned CD player. Also no multi format players .

Thanks for any suggestions.
joefama
gshepardbuster's avatar
gshepardbuster
620 posts
 
If you can live without sacd, try Meridian. Owned the 808.2 happily for about a year, sold it with intentions to buy the newer 808.3 but ended up, believe it or not, with a Mcintosh 1100. Possibly your bad experience with Mcintosh could have had other causes as IME all gear has the potential to be less than underwhelming in the wrong application. OTOH I have had mediocre gear sound fantastic in the right room with good system implementation. IME its all in the matching and proper setup, just my 2 cents, enjoy your journey!
joefama OP
60 posts
 
I picked up an Espteric k01 for 14k and a little disappointed . Noisy transport which should not be in this price range. Will give every benefit before I sell it and scream.
montejay
285 posts
 
I like the K-03. Had a chance to audition in my system,
Great dac and transport in one box.

Regards,
joefama OP
60 posts
 
Please excuse my typo, I meant Esoteric K-01 SACD / CD player.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Joe, I read the K-01 retails for $22k (and that was 12 months ago), so you'd be looking pre-owned, and it's unlikely any examples will come up soon, but it looks like an impressive deck.
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