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Does it still pay to buy a $3k CD player

? I see many people still interested in spending a fair amount for CD only players. I am particularly speaking of the link regarding the Wadia/Resolution Audio. I know they are great pieces. But, how far off are the Sony's (SACD players) in CD only replay? After spending 3K on hardware,a lot of us would be more comfortable with the investment if we were also able to buy new software, SACD. Which way to go?
joekras2785
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Joe; It also depends greatly on how old you are and how many CDs you have..... think about it. Good luck. I'm an "old coot" and there's no doubt in my mind. Best of luck. Craig
carl_eber
1,425 posts
 
Joe, if you get one used, then yes. That's what I did, and I want to challenge anyone with an SCD-1 to come by and compare CD playback with my CD50.
dkuipers
64 posts
 
Well, no need to visit you Carl, as I've had the Res CD50 here for an extended listen compared to my Sony SCD-1. Did the CD50 as an integrated player into a preamp and CD-direct into my amps balanced (Atma-Sphere M60 MkIIs). The CD50 is a very nice CD player. Rich sound, non-fatiguing. The integral volume control is a nice bonus and it worked smoothly into the amps direct. Bass a little soft, but the midband is excellent. However, the CD50 was not as refined as my fully-broken-in SCD-1 on redbook CDs, and for SACDs, the comparison is of course pointless. People tend to exaggerate differences, if something is a little better compared to something else, then the first is "crap" and the latter "blows it away." Hardly. The CD50 is a very nice player I could easily live with. But the SCD-1 is better. Noticeably better, not a huge amount better. Is the improvement worth the extra $$? Only you can answer that.
carl_eber
1,425 posts
 
Dkuipers, you'll forgive me if I don't take your word for it (I don't have to). The SCD-1 has crappy op amps for the analog output stage, and you didn't mention what power cords and conditioning you used, or why you think adding a linestage to the chain helped "increase resolution" of the SCD-1 when playing CD's (compared to not even having a linestage when using the CD50). I submit that it does not, and feel that you are hearing a system interaction that is pleasing to you. The CD50 is not "warm" or "euphonic" in any way, it's accurate and transparent with more top to bottom coherence than anything with op amps. The CD50 you heard was perhaps an older unit in poor operating condition, alos. Bring your SCD-1 by my system anytime, and you'll hear what I mean....And as for SACD's, when there are more than 5000 titles, then we'll talk on that.
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