British CD

[ledzep]

No CD player is entirely British, as all of them will use various foreign transports. Some of the better Jap ones also have superior build in many cases IMO.

The AVI Lab CD player was a goodie I think and the last ones were supplied with a spare transport mech. They fetch rather more than £400 though, but in fact ANY of AVI's machines are good, as long as the mech is behaving itself and there is now an authorised third-party service agent for their older electronics.

Just a thought - what about one of the Avondale tweaked machines? The AAA5 model can be got for less than your budget occasionally. The Alpha 5 used a good Philips mech (Les keeps spares too) and for whatever reason, this Arcam implementation tracked bad discs better than almost all others. This may cost more, but Les also soups up the Naim CD3, that was a pleasant enough machine in stock trim, but rather better modded.

Yeah i know moats parts are made abroad but im trying keep my hifi British but the AVI option might be worth checking out,cheers for that Dave R

[DSJR]

To give full credit to their designer, the AVI players sounded pretty good into a humble system, BUT got better and better as the system allowed, especially in perceived dynamic range and soundstage. Ergonomics on pre 'Lab' series was poor, but the remote is Philps language (as are the Naim and Arcam Alpha series) and is perfectly ok for album listening.

I used to like the Quad 66 (properly filtered and interconnected) and 67 machines, but neither can be serviced if the mech fails I believe, as I seem to remember Quad ran out of 67 mechs a decade or more ago.

Hey up, I'm not living up to my reputation here What about a good used REGA machine - any of 'em? All can be serviced by the manufacturer if necessary I understand and ALL of them perform and sound very good for the money. hell, £400 may buy you a NEW Apollo R if you're lucky, and with a proper guarantee too....... Some dislike the top loading, but the later 'lids' inspire confidence.

[pjdowns]

Naim CDI (you can get them for your budget), if not a CD3 which is a damn fine player.

Arcam are good (but a little too warm for my tastes)

Meridian can be good and easily within your budget. I personally preferred the sound of the 200 models as apposed to the 500.

As recommended above Exposure made quite a good CD player back in the mid 90's, not sure of the model.

Paul.

[walpurgis]

Meridian can be good and easily within your budget. I personally preferred the sound of the 200 models as apposed to the 500.

Not sure I agree with your preference. I've got a 206 which sounds very nice indeed, but it can't compete with my 507 in any way.

[pjdowns]

Horses for courses I guess Geoff

[Spectral Morn]

Some of the Musical Fidelity players were quite good X Ray, Nuvista 3D, 308, A3.5 any of those should be cheap enough these days. Avoid the SACD ones (poor laser mechs not replaceable) and that awful KW transport and DAC - terrible in my opinion.

Deltec Precision Audio made a few nice ones, transports and Dacs mostly but they also made an integrated CD player too at one time called the Renaissance

The Tube Technology Fulcrum was quite nice - now based in America but they were in Wales for quite awhile and before that the South.

Sonnoteer - Bronte not heard one but UK company.

Trichord made a few

Audiolab made a few as well.

John Shearne - Phase 7 was quite good

Sugdens CD players are very good a MasterClass would be nice.

LFD made a CD player at one time too

Pink Triangle made some - not heard any though.

However my fave UK player would be the Myriad M100 beautiful sounding cd player - you might be able to get one for your budget.


Regards Neil

[Yomanze]

An LFD mistral CDP went for silly money a few weeks back on eBay, silly low, under £300!

[Clive197]

Cyrus CD players all made in this country.
Arcam players are made in China, avoid a lot were sent back to China!

Clive

[clarkey555]

hi dan for the money a rega Apollo all day long