Suggestions for a replacement for my Rega Apollo CD player [Archive]

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 12:05

My Rega Apollo is playing up. I've had it repaired once. So that's top of my "what shall I change next" list.

I'd like something with the same form factor (so it can sit on a shelf alongside a half width DAB tuner) - half width top loader would be great. The Pro-ject CD players look like a good option. Either the DS2 T CD Transport, or Box RS CD Player. But the small Teac CD players looking interesting too. For example the PD-301DAB-X CD Player.

Any suggestions ?

Made in 1968

26-01-2020, 12:44

All CD players end up 'Playing Up' Utter waste of money they are. I sugest just moving onto a File based front end.

I cannot relax when i play CD's always thinking if this player is going to last much longer.

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 13:08

I'm pretty sure a file based setup is every bit as likely to go tits up. The little dot CD transports look nice, havnt used one though

Made in 1968

26-01-2020, 14:08

Well its like this People are always swapping & changing CDP cos they claim they all sound different so when your CD players acts up what you going to do buy another of the same that most probably is not made anymore, or buy a different brand which there are a very narrow choice now of just buy another second hand which will pack up sooner than later.

A Computer is a computer with no sound signature because hopefully you are not not extracting any sound from the soundcard, your DAC or streamer is doing that, your files are on drive, so the PC/Laptop is basically a digital jukebox controller. When that pops its cloggs you go down to your local electrical store & buy another, they all do the same thing. My pooter i play files on is nearly 10 years old & ive only just put a new Hard drive in it with a fresh windows installation, not cos it wanted it but because i wanted a faster SDD.. So much easier. So ten year old PC had outlasted two CD players up to yet..

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 14:17

Marantz HD cd1 looks a nice bit of kit:)

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 14:52

I suggest just moving onto a File based front end.

I've got a Melco N1A/2, and Simaudio Moon 180 Mind. I still like playing CDs.

I'm slightly tempted to go for a Melco D100, but can't feel £1k is worth it for a player that only has a USB out. If it was mainly for ripping with an occasional play, perhaps. But that's not what I want, and a cheap USB CD drive seems to work fine for ripping via the Melco.

I'd add that I do sympathise with the statement about the fragility of CD players. That's why I don't to spend an awful lot of money on a new player.

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 14:52

Marantz HD cd1 looks a nice bit of kit:)

That's an interesting option I hadn't spotted. Thanks James.

https://www.marantz.co.uk/Assets/images/products/HD-CD1_UK/L_hd_cd1_n_b_34.png

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 15:05

The little dot CD transports look nice

Oh! That does look interesting (http://www.theaudiophileworld.net/2012/02/little-dot-cdpi-transport-review.html). Nice price too. That might go to top of the list.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGTY42qByOo/TyooX6hO3yI/AAAAAAAAAO4/HK7aweXnubc/s640/CDP1.jpg

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 15:05

That's an interesting option I hadn't spotted. Thanks James.

It does look rather nice, I wouldnt mind one myself:)

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 15:07

Oh! That does look interesting (http://www.theaudiophileworld.net/2012/02/little-dot-cdpi-transport-review.html). Nice price too. That might go to top of the list.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGTY42qByOo/TyooX6hO3yI/AAAAAAAAAO4/HK7aweXnubc/s640/CDP1.jpg

I think theres a newer version Mkii, roughly £400, just seen the little dot cdp ii ont bay for £299, it says free postage from China but I bet youd get spanked import duties

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 15:40

Hmmm. Sourcing the Little Dot doesn't seem too easy, but looking uncovered:

SHANLING TEMPO eC1B. Interesting review of a similar player on 6moons (https://6moons.com/audioreviews/shanling6/shanling.html), and Audiophonics, who I've bought a lot of streaming bits from, are selling them (https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-devices/shanling-tempo-ec1b-audio-cd-player-and-usb-flash-drive-file-reader-silver-p-13459.html).

https://www.audiophonics.fr/img/cms/Images/Produits/13K/13459/13459-ecb1-tempo-silver-inpage0.jpg

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 15:54

Made in 1968

26-01-2020, 15:56

Cant you use your DVD player with a DAC? They just look like they maybe CD Rom trays

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 16:13

Cant you use your DVD player with a DAC? They just look like they maybe CD Rom trays

Hi Andre, I was just coming to a similar conclusion after looking at a discussion on another forum (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/small-footprint-cd-player-recommendations.774359/)

So, a Sony BDPS3700B Smart Blu-Ray Player might be an option. I can even get one from Argos tomorrow.

https://media.4rgos.it/i/Argos/5194935_R_Z002A?w=750&h=440&qlt=70

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 16:40

Hi Andre, I was just coming to a similar conclusion after looking at a discussion on another forum (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/small-footprint-cd-player-recommendations.774359/)

So, a Sony BDPS3700B Smart Blu-Ray Player might be an option. I can even get one from Argos tomorrow.

https://media.4rgos.it/i/Argos/5194935_R_Z002A?w=750&h=440&qlt=70

Its definitely a cost effective option if you haven't already got a blu ray player, I do like the look of that marantz though:cool:

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 17:33

I do like the look of the Marantz, but I've just checked the specs and it's too wide for my purposes. So I think it's down to two: The Sony Blu-ray player or a Pro-Ject CD Box DS2 T. I think at the moment, it will all come down to timing. If my Rega CD player hangs on in there for another month, I'll go for the Pro-Ject. If it dies before I can put some money aside for the Pro-ject (or my eye and wallet get drawn somewhere else), then I'll get the Sony.

Thanks for the input everyone.

https://cdn.audioaffair.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/r/pro-ject-cd-box-ds2t-cd-transport-black-eucaplyptus.jpg

JohnJo

26-01-2020, 17:55

The exposure XM is nice but pricey still second hand.

Made in 1968

26-01-2020, 18:12

Hi Andre, I was just coming to a similar conclusion after looking at a discussion on another forum (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/small-footprint-cd-player-recommendations.774359/)

So, a Sony BDPS3700B Smart Blu-Ray Player might be an option. I can even get one from Argos tomorrow.

https://media.4rgos.it/i/Argos/5194935_R_Z002A?w=750&h=440&qlt=70

I dont think the next models up are that much more expensive, I know one plays SACD. Youll have to have a quick scan of customer reviews, I dont think you are going to get away from those thin plastic drawers tho..

struth

26-01-2020, 18:19

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 18:31

You can play cds through a separate rom drive into a rpi if of any use..
Mine sounds OK tbh. Not quite as good as a file but not a lot on it..
I've a project ds2 phono, and it's nicely made so if they do a cd I'm guessing it will be too

Mmmmm. That made me think a little more laterally. Actually, I can use the USB drive connected to my Melco as a player as a stop gap. So - the Pro-Ject is looking like a more likely endpoint.

hifinutt

26-01-2020, 20:39

Marantz HD cd1 looks a nice bit of kit:)

very nice , and marantz have great remotes normally . at 269 for a b stock model its well worth a punt i think

http://www.hyperfi.co.uk/marantz-hdcd1-premium-player-hdcd1-black-p-2723.html

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 20:48

I've been looking on hyperfi, what does B stock mean?

Made in 1968

26-01-2020, 20:50

Means it may have a Marks or something slight that renders it not new

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 20:53

Ex display kind of thing?

walpurgis

26-01-2020, 20:58

Personally, I'd feel inclined to stick to Rega. They sound decent enough and at least you can get them serviced or repaired if need be. Spend any spare cash on a good DAC.

Made in 1968

26-01-2020, 21:05

Ex display kind of thing?

Yes anything like that..

Pieoftheday

26-01-2020, 21:10

Yes anything like that..

Ta Andre, :)

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 21:51

Personally, I'd feel inclined to stick to Rega.

To be honest, I'm a little disappointed with the Rega. I bought it specifically because I thought the top loading mechanism would make the drive more resilient than a drawer mechanism. It replaced a TEAC VRDS7 that had died due to a faulty drawer. I had to send the Rega back to the manufacturer a year or two back because it stopped playing disks. Someone else I know had the same fault. I just don't think the electronics are that great in the player.

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 21:53

very nice , and marantz have great remotes normally . at 269 for a b stock model its well worth a punt i think

http://www.hyperfi.co.uk/marantz-hdcd1-premium-player-hdcd1-black-p-2723.html

I agree, but as I mentioned in another post, the Marantz is too wide for my requirement.

ReggieB

26-01-2020, 23:35

I discounted this when I first spotted it, but I'm going to put the Denon DCD-50 (https://www.denon.co.uk/uk/product/hifi/cdsacdplayer/dcd50) on the possible list.

https://assets.denon.com/assets/images/productimages/DCD-50/21_Denon_DCD-50_horizontal_hr_CNew.png?RenditionID=3

mr sneff

27-01-2020, 09:25

If you don't mind a slot-loading player the Project CD Box S at £300 is very good. Mine sounds great into a Beresford Caiman SEG.
Very small footprint.

ReggieB

27-01-2020, 09:30

If you don't mind a slot-loading player the Project CD Box S at £300 is very good. Mine sounds great into a Beresford Caiman SEG.
Very small footprint.

Yes - the Pro-Ject players are still very high on the list. Nice to get a recommendation from someone using one.

ReggieB

06-02-2020, 21:58

Fortunately, rumours of the demise of my Rega CD player were greatly exaggerated.

A new CD arrived in the post, and I was eager to hear it. And the music from my CD player just started dropping out far more often than it had previously. And I thought, that could be a loose connection; it could be the interconnect. Sure enough. I swapped out the digital lead, and the drop outs disappeared. So - the CD player replacement has definitely gone on hold.

Oh - and great album.

https://d24jnm9llkb1ub.cloudfront.net/icpn/00602547862402/00602547862402-cover-zoom.jpg
Coltrane* ‎– "Live" At The Village Vanguard (https://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/9572)