wtd: a decent cd player under £500

[Gramophonic]

I'm looking for a high quality cdp for my second system which has studio monitors, so reasonably warm sounding would be a plus. Mostly for playing classical music. I had a Marantz cd63 special edition which didn't do it for me at all so probably not Marantz. Just wondering if you folks can help me out! I'd be very interested in trying a valve cd player but assume those are quite expensive! Rob

[rmcin626]

I'm looking for a high quality cdp for my second system which has studio monitors, so reasonably warm sounding would be a plus. Mostly for playing classical music. I had a Marantz cd63 special edition which didn't do it for me at all so probably not Marantz. Just wondering if you folks can help me out! I'd be very interested in trying a valve cd player but assume those are quite expensive! Rob


I have an Arcam CDs50 sacd player/streamer, as new if that would be of any interest.

[rmcin626]

This is it

https://shop.loud-clear.co.uk/products/arcamcds50cdplayer

[Ali Tait]

Have a Creek CD60 (TDA1541 chips), let me know if it's of interest.

[Pieoftheday]

I've a roksan.k3 cd player sat doing nothing, £500 plus postage

[Geoff101]

If you fancy something a bit different, I have a Morgan Audio Deva Pro-9 spare - actually I have two of them.

As the name suggests - a rare CM9-Pro mech, TDA1543 DAC with a discrete output stage. Ridiculously oversized power supply.

Really warm, analogue sound. A few quirks but was working fine last time I used it. Well under your budget!

There's one on German ebay to give you an idea. You'll have to come and get it though (Oxfordshire).

[hifinutt]

bit expensive but worth a look

https://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/cdplayer.php?prod_title=Arcam_FMJ_CD23&id=122908

[Gramophonic]

Thanks guys. I've pm-ed a couple of you. That 2nd hand hifi link is interesting, expensive of course but there are some amazing high-end bits up there!

[Macca]

be wary of buying used CD players - I've bought a lot of them and they can last a few years or a few weeks.

I'm fine buying used amps or speakers but CD players I now only buy new for maximum longevity. Once they go wrong just the fault finding is a big job and not easy to find someone to take it on. It's rarely as simple as replacing the laser.

If I were you I'd go to a Richer Sounds and buy a new player. For a warmer sound look at EQ or room treatment (doesn't need to be ugly panels). Vast majority of players sound the same or very similar in any case - regardless of price.

[Gramophonic]

be wary of buying used CD players - I've bought a lot of them and they can last a few years or a few weeks.

I'm fine buying used amps or speakers but CD players I now only buy new for maximum longevity. Once they go wrong just the fault finding is a big job and not easy to find someone to take it on. It's rarely as simple as replacing the laser.

If I were you I'd go to a Richer Sounds and buy a new player. For a warmer sound look at EQ or room treatment (doesn't need to be ugly panels). Vast majority of players sound the same or very similar in any case - regardless of price.

This is worth keeping in mind and is why I went here rather than Ebay or something like that! but that is a path I may go down. I must say EQ is one big advantage of computer audio, I use foobar 2000 which has a great EQ but I sell cds on discogs and between that and my own collection have a good 15000 cds, so it isn't always practical to have everything on the hd though I'm 5000 in to that project! :p

[hifinutt]

marantz 6007 is under your budget and a lovely bit of kit . feels far more expensive . cd60 good as well

[willbewill]

marantz 6007 is under your budget and a lovely bit of kit . feels far more expensive . cd60 good as well

:thumbsup:

I have a Rotel CD11 Tribute but if I was buying now the Marantz 6007 would be my choice

[Pigmy Pony]

:thumbsup:

I have a Rotel CD11 Tribute but if I was buying now the Marantz 6007 would be my choice

I have the previous model Marantz 6006 UK edition. Pretty good for the money, though the loading tray is a temperamental shitbag. Maybe the 6007 is better in this regard.

[hifinutt]

yes 6007 beautiful , its also easier to get the disc off the tray than the rotel

[alcarmichael]

I use an Arcam CD73 which I picked up for around £100 and it sounds absolutely brilliant.

[Pigmy Pony]

I use an Arcam CD73 which I picked up for around £100 and it sounds absolutely brilliant.

How much better can a player costing thousands sound than one selling for a few hundred. I'm betting there's not much in it, and the extra money is going on better (hopefully) build quality and operation. And appearance.

[Macca]

How much better can a player costing thousands sound than one selling for a few hundred. I'm betting there's not much in it, and the extra money is going on better (hopefully) build quality and operation. And appearance.

you'd hope better ability to read damaged discs without drop out or glitches too but not necessarily the case.
As with any component there's expensive rubbish out there.

Not all players have a flat response - shelve the bass up or the treble down a little - warm sounding player

Shelve the bass down or the top up - bright sounding (aka 'detailed') player. But that is rare.

Some players have constant mechanical noise. Some have bad internal lay-out and have power supply noise bleeding into the signal - that might be audible as a loss of detail and a mushy sound.

But those exceptions aside there's not much if any difference, that's the advantage of digital audio.

[hifinutt]

recently bought a primare cd 35 after months of deliberation . its reasonably priced , runs 100% silent , smooth operation of tray , quality remote and sounds organic, smooth and has a lovely sound .

[Macca]

Good kit, Primare.

Not bad looking either.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yeah, I like Primare kit, I like the symmetry :)

How about this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256121892877?itmmeta=01HSS7A16V3FFXTFY257G2S43V&hash=item3ba20df00d:g:r9kAAOSwwRpkmXDM&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4KiGZLorJjKMhV5F0FohEC4GiowlN M61fnaO%2BNNiZJVEOxBufOqTkw3znGWULnOOWV%2FmEpe3iUe a00g3y66DLeEJlBELuR3qVDdI1MkfXIOvFPylQqPg0J%2Fu3dI WUYLbAoHxqTPwFwzHVkJA0tYWHzFTMscc7L5zER%2Bozqvqs3h DOGJrAVKnVwB23ZsA8P8XSMo69NxkGKwVR%2FXZ%2BRzsKRtC5 Rc%2BBatAQX6MbmvND%2FCz2m1R2NmQQQj1lx%2FmgajI%2Fuy 5leA7C37%2F5yJOVSQXBihNXh8jctwKVVFaxqIwOcuk%7Ctkp% 3ABk9SR7yTqKfOYw

There's another one in silver for quite a bit less, and also a CD21 where the bid is only about £100 with a couple of days to go. Might be worth a punt

[hifinutt]

that looks nice