Can a CD player's sound degrade?
Last month I bought a Marantz CD6006 (UK) to stand in for my ailing Densen player. I got it as an "open box" item from Richers, with a full guarantee and two tiny scratches on top which I fixed with a black marker pen. for £260.
I wasn't expecting too much from this player, even though it had some great reviews. After all It's a £300 player replacing one with a new cost of about 1300 quid iirc. But I'm actually loving it, making me revisit my favourite discs, and one or two which were previously a 'difficult' listen. All the detail seems to still be there, but with a smoothness and balance that is really drawing me in. Why would this be?
Possibilities:
1. The lowered expectations and relatively low outlay is helping me 'relax into the music' rather than listening to the player.
2. The Marantz is simply a really good player, and compares favourably with the ageing Densen.
3. The Marantz has a better synergy with the rest of my stuff, and price be damned.
4. The Densen's sound quality has worsened over time and it's taken swapping in another player to show this up.
The first three possibilities I can readily believe, I'm just curious about number four. And whether it would be worth throwing money at getting the Densen fixed. Any views guys?
I just dropped in, to see what condition my condition was in
T/T: Inspire Monarch, X200 tonearm, Ortofon Quintet Blue. Phono: Project Tube Box CD: Marantz CD6006 (UK Edition); Amp: Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated.
Speakers: Zu Omen Def, REL T9i subwoofer. Cables: Atlas Equator interconnects, Atlas Hyper 3.0 speaker cables
T'other system:
Echo Dot, Amptastic Mini One,Arcam A75 integrated, Celestion 5's, BK XLS-200 DF
A/V:
LG 55" OLED, Panasonic Blu Ray, Sony a/v amp, MA Radius speakers, REL Storm sub
Forget the past, it's gone. And don't worry about the future, it doesn't exist. There is only NOW.
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