What would you keep if you can only keep three of these cd players

Ironwolf

Well-Known Member
Choices are:

Pioneer PD-65 x2
Marantz CD-67se x3
Rega planet
CAL Icon mkII
Philips CD 40, CD 50, CD60
Tascam CD-RW 900 mkII
NEC CD 810, CD730
Yamaha CDX-730
Sony CDP-701ES
Sony single disc ES model that I can't remember.
 
Marantz CD67se
Philips CD60
Sony ES single disc

Why? Both the Marantz and the Philips use the TDA1541 DAC, still a great DAC all these years later.

The Sony, because any Sony that's an ES is almost always more than decent.

I'd be interested in one of the '67s if you downsize.
 
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I can't really offer any insight on any of those, but if it were me I'd hang onto that Tascam.
CD recording is old tech I suppose, but I find it handy to have around.
YMMV
 
CD recording is old tech I suppose, but I find it handy to have around.

I've been pondering a couple of Philips CDR units near me, for silly money. But then it dawned on me that every PC I have has a CD writer, so I really don't need a dedicated device, however cheap.
 
I've been pondering a couple of Philips CDR units near me, for silly money. But then it dawned on me that every PC I have has a CD writer, so I really don't need a dedicated device, however cheap.
Yeah.

I like having one in the stereo rack for recording analog sources.
If all I needed one for was copying CDs I don’t think I’d bother.
 
Marantz CD67se
Philips CD60
Sony ES single disc

Why? Both the Marantz and the Philips use the TDA1541 DAC, still a great DAC all these years later.

The Sony, because any Sony that's an ES is almost always more than decent.

I'd be interested in one of the '67s if you downsize.

If I remember correctly all the philips I have had that dac chip in it.
 
Hmmm, definitely the CAL and one of the Pioneers - undecided regarding the third one...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
Some the early NEC models were excellent. I had (a 730 I think) that had a power button that lit up green. It sounded better than most at the time (to me). I'm also partial to the Sony ES models. The one I have is built like a tank and sounds wonderful.
 
I can't really offer any insight on any of those, but if it were me I'd hang onto that Tascam.
CD recording is old tech I suppose, but I find it handy to have around.
YMMV

I just might do that being I have a shelf full of blank audio cd-r and regular cd-r because the Tascam can do both formats. Or I'll just let them go with the Tascam.
 
Hmmm, definitely the CAL and one of the Pioneers - undecided regarding the third one...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

I am currently using the Rega and CAL. I recently lent one of the pioneers to a friend and on the third day he put a disc in and it wouldn't play. Upon ejection of the disc the lens came out of the unit. As luck would have it he saw it shoot out and found it on the floor. So the unit is currently being repaired.
 
it did not like being loaned out - it barfed out a working part.

I'd put on the eject list, any that didn't have a digital or optical output just
in case you decide, later, to use the CDP as a transport.

those 154x (1541 then 1543) are pretty good. I read recently that the 1543 is
being used in new units. perhaps the only version either still available or in
production.

Also, any also play SACD? keep one.
 
it did not like being loaned out - it barfed out a working part.

I'd put on the eject list, any that didn't have a digital or optical output just
in case you decide, later, to use the CDP as a transport.

those 154x (1541 then 1543) are pretty good. I read recently that the 1543 is
being used in new units. perhaps the only version either still available or in
production.

Also, any also play SACD? keep one.

None of the ones that I have will do the SACD.
 
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