Expensive CD players - worth it?

[Macca]

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.