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cd player recommendations

N

nissan guy

Super Member
I have been getting back into music alot lately thanks to AK, and will have my amp, pre and main speakers all set up and ready to listen to but need some recommendations on what type of cd player i should be looking for. I will be running my sequerras most of the time with a belles 225 amp, and a good pre, the model escapes me right now. I am getting the belles and the pre from a friend in a few weeks, i can't pass up the deal on them.

I would like something of good build quality and sound quality for around $300.00 or less. Black would be a plus The amp and pre are black. Older units are fine as well as new ones. I dont really need a disc changer but i guess a five disc wouldn't hurt if it is good quality. Wood sides are fine as well, i like the looks of some of the older sony es cd players with the wood sides alot. Brand doesn't really concern me much, as long as it sounds good.

I dont really have any experience with anything but the cd player i have now which is a 5 disc kenwood 104cd, so i think just about anything would be a good improvement in sound quality.

I may not purchase one for a while yet but i want to know of anything good in my price range i should keep an eye out for. For now i can run the kenwood or my ipod. I will be on the hunt for a good tt after i get a good cd player. :thmbsp:

Thanks.
 
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If I were you I would look for a recent red book CDP, like a used Cambridge Audio 640 C v2 (within your budget) or a similarly priced used Arcam unit.
 
Audio Advisor has a nice selection in that price range. The NAD515BEE $299, Cambridge Sonata on sale for $329 and the Marantz CD5004 for $349. All excellent players. If you want to pop for a bit more the NAD C545BEE is a real killer. Enjoy the music.
 
Sony 707ESD

I would highly recommend the Sony 707ESD, as it is black with wood side panels, and the best part is that it is built like a tank and sounds amazing.

I picked up one a few months back and have not been disappointed at all.

The thing weighs 40 lbs. The drawer opens and closes like a bank vault.

Did I mention the sound quality . . .

Cheers
 
I'm a big fan of the old Kyoceras, in particular the 710, of which I have 2, just in case. I have compared the 710 to quite a few other players, including upscale players like Opera, Cal Audio, and Rotel, and more mainline players like Yamaha, NAD, and Adcom. I've found the 710 to be the equal of any and better than most. It throws a big soundstage, has great imaging and definition, and is much more involving than a lot of the newer players I've heard. I'm sure there are better, but I think I'd have a hard time topping it in it's price range. I like the Kyocera 610 also, but it doesn't have as big a soundstage and isn't as dynamic as the 710, however it's still nice sounding player in it's own rite. The 710 has 18 bit quadruple oversampling and 2 Brown and Burr PCM56P-S digital to analog converters, which many people say were the best. One of the advantages of the 710 is that it has a digital out in case you want to use it as just a transport. Plus I think the wood borders and silver and black face make it a pretty classy looking unit, if a little retro. But thats okay, I'm a little retro
They show up on eBay pretty regularly in the $200 range +/-, and the nice thing about buying a Kyocera 710 is that if it's in good shape you can always get your money back if you don't like it. If considering getting one I would recommend waiting to get one with a remote. The last univertsal remote I got wouldn't program for the 710, even though the instructions said it would. The picture is of my old 610, but they look pretty similar. The 710 just has more features like a 20 track keypad.
 

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For $349 I just ordered an NAD C545BEE refurb from Spearit Sound. Should be an outstanding sounding player.
 
guiller said:
If I were you I would look for a recent red book CDP, like a used Cambridge Audio 640 C v2 (within your budget) or a similarly priced used Arcam unit.
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Art K. said:
For $349 I just ordered an NAD C545BEE refurb from Spearit Sound. Should be an outstanding sounding player.
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I also recommend sticking with something modern, and perhaps slightly used, but from within the last five or six years if possible.
 
I debated between a few models when I decided to update recently. I ended up with the Onkyo C-S5VL which also plays SACDs although I don't own any. I did an A/B comparison with my old JVC CDP on a couple of CDs I know well and the was a distinct but subtle difference to my ears. The Onkyo was smoother and a bit less harsh on certain piano passages than the JVC. I think it would be worth throwing into your mix. It's been well-reviewed.
 
Here I want to add some of my expirence. All this CD-R are only valid if they are kept away from excessive heat, and left alone in the CD at any time, else you are to lose them within short time of time or will be unable to receive the best performance from them.
 
I may be picking up a sony es cd player model cdp c90es from the original owner with a remote, original paperwork, original box and an extra 10 cd magazine. I know its not quite as nice as some of the models mentioned, but for the price i would like to see if my ears can diferentiate between the kenwood and a higher quality unit. I can always upgade from there.

Does anyone have any experience with the cdp-c90es? What was the original cost?

Thanks,Jon
 
nissan guy said:
Not bad. How does that unit compare to the others listed in this thread?
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It's not bad I've had both that and the NAD 545 here for demo and IMO the 545 is considerably better sounding. However for about the same price as the 5004 you would have to get the refurb 545 and the warranty is only 1 yr. I feel that that the Marantz is a bit better build quality. So really it would depend what you are after which you would prefer.
 
Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai--Highly recomended single cd player, super solid transport and can find for a nice price on the used market, as it was $1200 new! the bird.
 
CSG123 said:
The Onkyo was smoother and a bit less harsh on certain piano passages than the JVC.
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This type of improvement in particular IME is one major indicator that you're headed in the right direction with your newer CD player (as in new-to-you).
 
thunderbird3370 said:
Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai--Highly recomended single cd player, super solid transport and can find for a nice price on the used market, as it was $1200 new! the bird.
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I own and use it's older sibling, the Elite DV-45A. Pretty good player. Markedly better than the $200 cd players I've owned before it. It has been in service for years playing DVD-A, SACD and standard CD's. DVD's have been regulated to my blueray player for the past couple years.
 
Just picked up a sony 707 esd cd player. Haven't had much time to listen to it yet but so far it seems to be much more detailed than the kenwood and it also seems to have much more bass. I was looking for a newer player but for the price and build quality i couldn't pass it up. Its missing the remote and the wood sides. I will most likely buy a remote and make my own rosewood sides for it when i get time.

I may take it in to a local electronics store who has a very good tech, and have him go over it and make sure its all set to be listened to for a while.
 
nissan guy said:
Just picked up a sony 707 esd cd player...was looking for a newer player but for the price and build quality i couldn't pass it up...
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Those older Sony ES players are great, outstanding build quality and some nice features, e.g. variable out with headphone jack. If you ever have the urge you can also run the digital out into a newer DAC.

One potential is finding replacement lasers if that part ever goes out. Might be worth identifying which laser it uses* and keeping your eye out for one, just to be ready.

*KSS190A
 
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