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Best CD Player under $1000

Dear everyone, I would like to get some of your opinions on CD player upgrade under consideration. I have following audio system: Quad 405-2 power, Quad 33 pre-amp, NAD 512 CD player, B&W CDM1 SE, Tara Lab Prism 22 interconnect, and MIT T2 Biwire speaker cables. Mostly I listen to classical music, ranging from piano, cello, to orchestral works, sometimes jazz. I would like to get clean, accurate, detailed, transparent, a great soundstage, and depth? As a first step, I am considering upgrading my CD player. Which CD player under $1000 can give a clean, accurate, detailed, transparent, a great soundstaging, and depth sound and that provide a great upgrade option as a CD transport in case that I buy DAC later on? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time in advance.
jwmin
mr_gridlock
20 posts
 
Speaking of digital outs, the lower end Sony's seem to only have TOS-link out. I don't really think in a 1m run there's going to be that much difference from coax, but not all DACs have an optical in. If you do go separates, and not a single CD player, make sure your transport and DAC have compatible connectors.
misterwhipple
1 posts
 
I can second the previous recommendation of the Rotel RCD-971. I A/B'd it with the Rega Planet and picked the Rotel (the other person in the room also picked the Rotel). Of course all this is very subjective so definitely pick what sounds good to you :) If it makes a difference to you, the Rotel also decodes HDCD. We auditioned the gear on a system with Krell electronics and B&W Nautilus (804s I think) speakers. Another interesting player is the Ah! Tjoeb player (a modified Marantz player with a tube output stage substituted). Anybody here have any experiences to share? Lots of folks at "audioreview.com" had good things to say about it. Info and ordering available at: http://www.upscaleaudio.com/index2.htm Have fun!
3141510
29 posts
 
CEC TL5100Z belt-drive($800.00 from audioadvisor.com;msrp-$1795.00)
tom_maxwell7e43
5 posts
 
look for an Arcam alpha 9 cd player used for about $1,000. it's wonderful.
fpeel
455 posts
 
The original post didn't specify whether used was OK or not. I recently bought a used CAL Alpha DAC/Delta transport in cherry shape for under $1,000 and am very happy with it. I see these listed from time to time on Audiogon.
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