Which CD Player has the best sound quality?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Greenalishi, May 9, 2018.

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  1. DEG

    DEG Sparks ^^^

    Location:
    Lawrenceville Ga.
    What a loaded question! Whatever model makes your ears smile!
     
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  2. I always thought that Denon players handled PCM and all its forms (CD, DVD-Audio) better than SACD's DSD. Maybe look into a used Marantz for an alternative in that ballpark.
     
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  3. Chris Treece

    Chris Treece Forum Resident

    Location:
    Haworth, UK
    Quad 66 is the best-sounding player I've ever owned. Single crown TDA chip. I still beat myself up for letting that one go.....what on earth was I thinking!?!?
     
  4. mjcmt

    mjcmt Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Any of the TOTL audiophile players from the high-end companies will satisfy.

    I'm partial to the Hegel Mohican player. Great name too, as in Last of the Mohicans for a format at the end of it's run.

    3 reviews here:

    Hegel Music Systems Mohican CD player

    Hegel Music Systems Mohican CD player

    Hegel Mohican CD Player
     
  5. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
  6. TheVinylAddict

    TheVinylAddict Look what I found

    Location:
    AZ
    I was having a discussion with a "penpal" in Japan who was implying the same thing.... but then there are others who speak highly of the Denon SA1, SA11. You know how it is.

    By Marantz - what do you like? F1Nut pointed me at a nice SA8005 Marantz, that seemed to be a good one. That is "in the ballpark" price-wise, and still readily available.

    Also, my memory might be failing, but I seem to recall from threads I've read in the archives that you are a XA5400es owner? I checked your profile...
     
  7. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Did they bring that one back? I thought it was discontinued.
     
  8. Warren Jarrett

    Warren Jarrett Audio Note (UK) dealer in SoCal/LA-OC In Memoriam

    Location:
    Fullerton, CA
    The best sound I have ever heard from a CD player is from an Aesthetix Romulus. It is $15,0000 though. Then, after it, are the various Audio Note reasonably priced models I have have now at home and work. I have not heard any other CD player in the price range of over $10,000, though, not even from Audio Note.
     
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  9. TheVinylAddict

    TheVinylAddict Look what I found

    Location:
    AZ
    No, it's discontinued, just saying they are still not that hard to get your hands on.... for instance https://www.amazon.com/Marantz-PM-8...ocphy=9030088&hvtargid=pla-571550466657&psc=1
    it's not in the "Currently Unavailable" state.

    Plus, in that Amazon ad, notice Safe and SOund has them - I've bought things from them in the past -- my point is they aren't that hard to get still, and you can get a break potentially since they've moved onto the next model.

    EDIT: to support at Safe and Sound, you have a choice between new and refurb:
    Marantz PM8005 Integrated Amplifier Factory Refurbished ($799.99)
    Marantz PM8005 Integrated Amplifier ($899.00)

    The 8005 is readily available new, where something like the SA1, SA11 are used only.
     
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  10. FillmoreGuy

    FillmoreGuy Forum Resident

    Location:
    springfield nj
    I have a Marantz SACD player and like it quite a bit. Still made in Japan too. I had a Denon and
    Rotel, and the Marantz is much better. (to me anyway)
     
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  11. TheVinylAddict

    TheVinylAddict Look what I found

    Location:
    AZ
    What model # Marantz and Denon did you own? When did you own the Denon, and were you able to compare side by side with the Marantz?
     
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  12. TheVinylAddict

    TheVinylAddict Look what I found

    Location:
    AZ
    Whoops, I somehow put info in on the PM8005 instead of the SA8005... sorry about that.

    The SA8005 is harder to find new, but if can be found is close to the $1199 price tag retail.

    Again, sorry all for the erroneous post
     
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  13. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Thanks for explaining. I thought I was completely confused and just assumed that the conversation switched to amplifiers.
     
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  14. TheVinylAddict

    TheVinylAddict Look what I found

    Location:
    AZ
    No, it was just me being a bonehead.
     
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  15. For the most part, the Marantz players I've heard had a nice, smooth sound for both CD and SACD. This was the Marantz player I was thinking of -

    The Marantz SA-14S1 SACD Player

    Yes, I love the XA-5400's sonic signature. If Sony was still making them, I'd suggest it.
     
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  16. Night Version

    Night Version Forum Resident

    Location:
    Texas
    I like my old Naim cd3.5. But it's *far* from accurate. Which is why I keep it!!

    My daily is a new Schiit Bifrost Multibit. LOVE IT.

    On the Rega Saturn-R mentions, I've never cared for it nor the DAC-R. But it does do a silky analogy bottom end, so perhaps that's the draw.
     
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  17. Timeless Classics

    Timeless Classics Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I personally love the EAR Yoshino Acute CD player. I have had 2 in the series (Acute 3, and the Acute Classic). They have 2 tubes for output, so can really tailor the sound the way you like - warmer, leaner, hyper detailed, etc. But overall, the sound is very warm/analog sounding I have heard for a digital CD playback, but still has great transparency and dynamics of great digital. The EAR sounds more analog relative to other CD players I've heard, so they do sound different.
     
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  18. moomaloo

    moomaloo All-round good egg

    Whilst I usually don't listen to CDs these days (just sheer cussedness and hopeless devotion to vinyl), my Rega Apollo continues to astonish. It is just stupidly good given its relatively humble price point.

    I've owned so many great classic CD players in my time (Meridian MCD, Meridian 200 series transport/dac, Micromega transport/dac, Naim CDX etc) but my Rega is easily as good, if not better, than all of them...
     
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  19. GoldprintAudio

    GoldprintAudio Forum Resident

    Location:
    Lexington, NC
    I didn't read through this whole thread, so these 2 may have been mentioned already, but as far as current model players that I've been impressed with lately --

    Marantz SA-KI RUBY -- Marantz US | SA-KI Ruby

    Bryston BCD-3 -- BCD-3 CD Player - Bryston
     
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  20. maglorine

    maglorine Forum Resident

    Location:
    Fairport,NY
    Echoing Moomaloo here. I’ve had a variety of CD players and transports over the years from modest to quite good but my current iteration Rega Apollo is a terrific value and wonderfully enjoyable.
     
    Greenalishi likes this.
  21. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    Any of those 1980s CD players still have any value, or are they all junk?
     
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  22. Sterling1

    Sterling1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    The Sony 55 and 77ES Players are very desirable for a multitudes of reasons.
     
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  23. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    They came out in the 1980s?
     
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  24. Sterling1

    Sterling1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    1989
     
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  25. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    Laser parts still available?
     
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