What is the warmest, most bass-heavy cd player you have ever heard?

I'm curious to know your answers here. Most budget cd players I've experimented with sound bright and wimpy compared to vinyl. Are there any that don't? I know what some of the expensive ones are that meet the criteria, but what about something affordable? A friend asked me for a recommendation and I'm stumped.

 

Do you really want warm/bass-heavy or do you want accurate?

I have an older Rotel RCD-1072 that was an award-winner 10-15 years ago, and I'd say that it keeps up with my vinyl rig just fine. You should be able to find one used for $300-$500.

 

I dont think a CD player is going to be "warm" or "bass heavy", they are largely neutral in that respect. If comparing to vinyl ,you have two completely different mediums and therein lies the differences. For what reasons, we could have a 20 page thread discussing/arguing the point...and we probably will

 

Rega Planet

 

It's called a turntable.

 

Not looking for a neutral player. Definitely want overly warm.

 

full disclosure: never heard one, but that is how i've always pictured them. worth a shot?

 

A good choice.

 

Never in my life heard a Rotel cd player that was overly warm.

 

Another one of these threads?..

 

Can we stay on topic, please? It's not another one of ____ threads. It's this thread. There's plenty of recycled information on this and every other forum. Keep the recommendations coming in. Thanks!

 

Totally worth a shot, I promise you.

 

I had an original Rega Planet and it's successor for several years. I don't know if I would characterize it as bass heavy, but it did have more of that analog smooth sound than your typical CD player. It's the first thing that came to mind when I thought about the question.

- Buck

 

This: http://www.doge-audio.com/products/doge 6.htm

 

I am biased but I like the sound of my Marantz SA8004 and feel it has a warm sound compared to other players I have experience with...I suspect the SA8005 is very similar as well as the SA8003...It is not the high end of Marantz but it is made in the same factory in Japan that makes their reference series and shares many parts with them...

 

Interesting you should mention this. He just told me he found a good deal on a Marantz CD5004 and wanted to know what I thought. I have no experience with this player. Is it warm and rich or is this a bright and harsh sounding machine?

 

A friend at work has the CD5004 and he likes it very much. I do not believe it shares the same DAC as the SA series however. I have only heard it a few times in his office on a smaller system so I can't compare to my rig. I opted for the SA8004 because I started getting more than a couple SACD titles and wanted to hear the Hi-res layer on these titles. I prefer vinyl overall because I enjoy the whole experience of it and I grew up with LP's. I sought out a decent disc spinner for the combination of decent sound and the convenience when I don't have time for dedicated listening...

 

Technics SL-PG100

 

I had a 6 CD changer by Integra (Onkyo's premium line) that sounded way better than your average player.

 

wow. pretty sure that was my college cd player. I don't remember using any of those buttons on the right.

 

Warmth in digital audio is achieved by using Stillpoints ERS paper. Also, by replacing output capacitors to say Relcap TFT.

 

I recently bought a used Rega Apollo here on the forum. That coupled with a Schiit Bitfrost Uber DAC has well mastered CDs sounding as close to vinyl as I've ever heard from a CD player.

 

Best to have a neutral source and then go with warm speakers.

 

I don't beleive there is much difference between any CD player these days, if ever there were. It should be neutral and transparent if it is functioning normally and providing the CD is mastered properly, have better (deeper and accurate) bass than is possible on vinyl. If you want more bass than the artist intended do that through your amp's bass knob or invest in a good quality sub.

 

You need a vintage Rotel. I went down the "warm" path handing off a succession of cd players until winding up with the Rotel. That was detailed, warm and had great bass! They are winners.