Recommend me a 'budget' cdp

[gingembre]

Having gone down the computer route for cdp playback (imac / hiface / dac) for a while it's now starting to drive me nuts. It's buggy and the sound quality is not as good as before - I'm not really listening to any cds at the mo as a result and have turned back to vinyl (not a bad thing!).

I have been looking at a marantz cd6004 either as is or used as a transport for my nos dac (approx £250). Any other ideas around the £200 mark.

Thks Dave

 

[RobHolt]

The Marantz will be fine. You should find a used Cambridge 640C/2 for under £200 and that is excellent.

That said, the streaming solution (when working) shouldn't sound worse.

NOS dacs do sometimes have a distinctive sound (not my cup of tea usually) so perhaps that's the issue.

Either way I'd just connect the CDP direct.

 

[kabayiri]

I bought a used Marantz CD63 from here the other week off Dan.

I've only used it as transport, but it's been great. My first experience with Marantz and so far, so good

I'm also in the early stages of computer audio, and it's a bit "faffy" at the moment.

 

[They call me Ron]

I may have a Cyrus CD6s up for grabs in the next couple days, coming in under your budget. It's a darn good player – better than the Cambridge Audio 640 it replaced, I thought. I"m replacing it with a newer, swankier Cyrus spinner. Just let me know if you're interested.

 

[gingembre]

I may have a Cyrus CD6s up for grabs in the next couple days, coming in under your budget. It's a darn good player – better than the Cambridge Audio 640 it replaced, I thought. I"m replacing it with a newer, swankier Cyrus spinner. Just let me know if you're interested.

Does that have a coaxial digital output?

 

[hearingisbelieving]

Arcam DV-135 - although a DVD player its performance with CDs is exceptional and the disc read times are fine. 2 pairs of analogue out, coax and opt digi out as well as usual DVD outs inc HDMI.

Can be had for under £200 on eBay(retailed for £1000 when new) and no known reliability issues.

 

[Jezzer]

Harman Kardon HD990. The best sub-£1000 CD player I've owned and a decent DAC to boot.

 

[falcoron]

At am DVD players are rock solid and sound stunning plug play forget

 

[Jazid]

If your computer source is not at least the equal pf your cdp/dac both sonically and functionally then you need to revisit the computer setup quite rigorously.

Sent from my GT-I5800 using Tapatalk 2

 

[gingembre]

If your computer source is not at least the equal pf your cdp/dac both sonically and functionally then you need to revisit the computer setup quite rigorously.Sent from my GT-I5800 using Tapatalk 2

I have done, however, the sound quality doesn't quite match the cdp used as a transport (some of the magic has gone), vocals are also not as good.

I think part of the problem is that the mac is used for other things also (not solely for the music).

tbh i am also struggling with the non tactile sequence of events, i.e. having to rely on the computer or ipad being on to access the music rather than just grabbing a cd and pressing a button.

 

[gingembre]

Would a rega apollo be a good bet (and work well as a transport?)

 

[rmsshipbroker]

Would a rega apollo be a good bet (and work well as a transport?)

I've used one into both an Audio Note DAC 0.1x and a 2.1x.

I thought it was pretty damn good as a transport, sound quality wise.

Although operationally it requires a few seconds to read the disc and set itself up, which means you have to have a bit of patience.

The usual caveats apply, YMMV, etc., but getting one to try, provided it is at the right price to sell on if you dont like it, could be a good option.

Cheers

Steve

P.S. They are also excellent CD players in their own right. :^

 

[Voice_Coil]

i think i saw a meridian 203 and dac for sale around that sorta price on here very recently, a good transport.

 

[68rednose]

I had an Arcam FMJ CD-23 with a dCS converter built in !!

Sold mine for EUR 350 years ago, so I'd expect the player to sell nowadays for around GBP 200.

Very happy with the player at that time.

Later there came the FMJ CD-23T with CD text possibilities from the Sony CD drive that was built in.

The FMJ CD-23, CD-23T and Diva CD-92 are AFAIK the only (Arcam) players with the dCS Ring DAC.

 

[mmar]

I had an Arcam FMJ CD-23 with a dCS converter built in !!Sold mine for EUR 350 years ago, so I'd expect the player to sell nowadays for around GBP 200.

Very happy with the player at that time.

Later there came the FMJ CD-23T with CD text possibilities from the Sony CD drive that was built in.

The FMJ CD-23, CD-23T and Diva CD-92 are AFAIK the only (Arcam) players with the dCS Ring DAC.

the arcam alpha 9 would be the first arcam player to use the ring dac , could be wrong the 23 is little more than a alpha 9 in a fancy case !

 

[cjr]

Toshiba SD9500 (DVD-V/DVD-A & DAC input to boot - £200)

Toshiba SD900e DVD-V/DVD-A £100 if you can find one.

Sony NS900V QS SACD/DVD-V £75

Denon DVD-2900 SACD/DVD-A £75

Sony DVP-9000ES SACD/DVD-V £200

Or buy a CD player of some sort. No huge changes in the output of the media.

 

[pure sound]

Buy MJ's excellent Sony CDP 715 for £45 and be done with it!

Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk 2

 

[HoopsOnToast]

Toshiba SD9500 (DVD-V/DVD-A & DAC input to boot - £200)Toshiba SD900e DVD-V/DVD-A £100 if you can find one.

Sony NS900V QS SACD/DVD-V £75

Denon DVD-2900 SACD/DVD-A £75

Sony DVP-9000ES SACD/DVD-V £200

Or buy a CD player of some sort. No huge changes in the output of the media.

This would be my suggestion, or something like the original Rega Planet :^



Rega Planet by f2000g, on Flickr

I have a DVP-S9000ES and its brilliant, to be honest! Heard nothing but good things about the Toshiba SD9500, their external input to the DAC is a good feature too!



Sony DVP-S9000ES by RSdesignUK, on Flickr

You might even get a S/H Sony ES Bluray player on that budget, which would play everything (Bluray, DVD, SACD, CD etc) if thats any help.

 

[HoopsOnToast]

As if by magic....

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?91305-Sony-SACD-CD-DVD-Player-NS900V