Expensive CD players - worth it?

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15-10-2026, 12:13
Macca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco

No, that's true, but he (or she) can replace like for like components, such as caps and resistors of the same value, which is often what needs replacing. As I said, I've had my Sony now for 20 years, and it continues to perform faultlessly to this day. The 'battleship' CDPs of old tend to last, IME.

No, I haven't heard Martin's CDP, but have no reason to assume it's not excellent. The point I was making, and I think Martin was too, was that hi-end CDPs of today are mostly built from cheap parts, so there's no point in buying one, unless the badge attracts, whereas 20 years ago, you got what you were paying for; where it matters, under the hood!

Marco.

I've got a faulty X505ES here so it can happen they go bad. Like anything they will eventually wear out with use, they just take a lot longer to do it, and the problem with getting one now is you don't know the mileage. And prices are still way too high despite that.

Sure you can find an EE who will work on one but some won't touch CD players. Also you'll have a wait and a substantial bill if it's not at mate's rates.

Plenty of new CD players that will give excellent sound quality, if you want high end looks and build the market for expensive CD transports seems to be expanding. They still don't have the build quality and attention to every detail of the top Sony kit but then nothing ever did. Okay, maybe high end Yamaha and JVC and Accuphase came close too.
15-10-2026, 12:35
Pigmy Pony

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macca

The problem with your Marantz is just the draw playing up? If so it's probably just needing a new belt. Sometimes the cogs fail but you can get replacements for those too now. So should be a cheap fix, just the cost of the belt (about a fiver) if you're up to doing it yourself.

Densen's always been one of those brands to me which charge a lot for something that's nothing special in a fancy case. That's true of pretty much any CD player from the boutique brands.

It's not just the drawer, discs have started skipping towards the end. So that's not a job for me. I expect the repair to cost a few bob, but it will still be cheaper than ditching it and buying a new one.

The Densen is back to behaving itself again, but for how long who knows. I've decided I don't like the sound (now my ears have latched onto it I can't ignore it). Maybe I'll get it fixed then sell it. Or even sell as-is. I saw a non-working one go on Ebay for a couple hundred.
15-10-2026, 13:01
walpurgis

Budget end CD players may benefit from having mainly been developed by big companies to sell in larger numbers than those of the more specialist makes and therefore the cheaper models will probably have had more development and bugs ironed out.
15-10-2026, 13:08
Macca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

It's not just the drawer, discs have started skipping towards the end. So that's not a job for me. I expect the repair to cost a few bob, but it will still be cheaper than ditching it and buying a new one.

The Densen is back to behaving itself again, but for how long who knows. I've decided I don't like the sound (now my ears have latched onto it I can't ignore it). Maybe I'll get it fixed then sell it. Or even sell as-is. I saw a non-working one go on Ebay for a couple hundred.

Skipping can also be due to a failing belt. People automatically assume that skipping means it's the laser although that's rarely the case. But it could also be any number of other things too.
15-10-2026, 13:29
Marco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macca

Sure you can find an EE who will work on one but some won't touch CD players. Also you'll have a wait and a substantial bill if it's not at mate's rates.

Lol, true, but I only ever do mates rates. If you've been in this game for 30-odd years and not befriended and EE in that time, then summat's wrong!;)

Quote:

Plenty of new CD players that will give excellent sound quality...

Yes, you might think that until you hear a good oldie in comparison...

Marco.
15-10-2026, 13:50
Marco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macca

Plenty of new CD players that will give excellent sound quality, if you want high end looks and build the market for expensive CD transports seems to be expanding. They still don't have the build quality and attention to every detail of the top Sony kit but then nothing ever did.

Here's a nice one for £5k: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4444...intage-compact

Expensive, yes, but I'd put it up against almost any modern hi-end CDP you could mention, and expect it to more than hold its own.

Marco.
15-10-2026, 14:12
Macca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco

Here's a nice one for £5k: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4444...intage-compact

Expensive, yes, but I'd put it up against almost any modern hi-end CDP you could mention, and expect it to more than hold its own.

Marco.

Yeah I did consider something like that when I was putting together my retirement system but I've owned enough vintage CDPs to be wary about longevity, so I went for brand new on the grounds it has the best chance of lasting for the longest time. It still goes through a 37 year old Sony DAC though!
15-10-2026, 14:31
Pigmy Pony

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco

Here's a nice one for £5k: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4444...intage-compact

Expensive, yes, but I'd put it up against almost any modern hi-end CDP you could mention, and expect it to more than hold its own.

Marco.

:eek: £5k? here's one:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=...BAgMEAs&adurl=

And here's another one:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=...BAgMEBQ&adurl=

Still rather buy new. Peace of mind you see. Anyway, I would say when you're at this level, the room plays a bigger part than component changes.
15-10-2026, 14:36
Marco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macca

Yeah I did consider something like that when I was putting together my retirement system but I've owned enough vintage CDPs to be wary about longevity, so I went for brand new on the grounds it has the best chance of lasting for the longest time. It still goes through a 37 year old Sony DAC though!

You gotta keep the side up, mate!:eyebrows:

Marco.
15-10-2026, 14:41
Marco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

:eek: £5k? here's one:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=...BAgMEAs&adurl=

And here's another one:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=...BAgMEBQ&adurl=

Just the first one I found, which does look minty. At least the ones you've linked to are affordable.

Quote:

Still rather buy new. Peace of mind you see. Anyway, I would say when you're at this level, the room plays a bigger part than component changes.

No worries. Piece of mind is important.

The room plays the biggest part regardless of what any component changes can do:)

It's hard making a good sound in a bad room.

Marco.

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