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Advice needed re: new CD player purchase

Hello everyone. New member but long-time lurker here. My system: Bryston 4B-ST amp, Bryston BP25 preamp, and Meridian 508.24 CD player (all purchased in 1998 and all performing flawlessly), Kimber KCAG balanced interconnects, Audioquest speaker cable, and Esoteric power cords. I have Thiel CS2.4 loudspeakers.

I have about 4500 CDs (about 3% of which are hybrid SACDs). I love my system, but I want a new CD player. Am I right to think that advances in audio technology over the last 24 years have left my Meridian in the dust, sonically speaking? So I have been looking at various players. A few parameters: I will only buy new; I want XLR outputs; and I’d prefer to not spend over 5k.

I’m looking hard at the Bryston BCD-3, and the Technics SL-G700. Having owned Bryston products now for almost 24 years, I’m extremely impressed by their build quality and performance. However, the BCD-3 is not an SACD player. I’ve read a few solid reviews of the Technics, but I’m suspicious of their long-term reliability. There are no dealers where I live or within 200 miles. I looked at the Marantz line, and their only player with balanced outputs is the SA-10, which I’ve heard is awesome but I’m unwilling, at this point, to pay $7500 (although my mind is not closed on the matter).

Anyone here have either the Bryston or the Technics player? Will I notice a marked improvement with a new player (as compared to my 508.24)? Like most of you, this is my life. After work, I listen 2-3 hours per day, sometimes more on weekends. Thanks in advance for your advices.
jeroboam
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,593 posts
 

jjss49

 

How is your repair project going?

Happy Listening!

stuartk
2,766 posts
 

Reading through this thread, it could be deduced that you'd alreday made up your mind to buy the Bryston from the beginning.  

jeroboam OP
24 posts
 

Reading through this thread, it could be deduced that you'd already made up your mind to buy the Bryston from the beginning. 

Actually, if you had read my initial post carefully, I was intent on buying either the Bryston or the Technics. I was looking for advice from people who had used either, or both (and looking for advice not just here). Between the date of my initial post, and the date I bought the Bryston, I received a lot of advice, and did a lot of research. Many of the responses here were about other players, or DACs, and that was to be expected. However, the only deduction you can reasonably make is that I set parameters, and stuck to them. But thanks for your observation.

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

@jafant 

thanks for the follow up

i had emailed the vendor you passed along to confirm part availability, but have not yet heard back

gradyjames
22 posts
 

Bryston's 20 year warranty only applies to it's analog amplifiers, not digital player's. The BCD-3's warranty is 5 year's, same as the Technics SL G-700. I do not own either but I do own the Technics ST G-30 Media Server/CD Ripper. I can give you first hand knowledge as to Technics build quality, it is beyond reproach. Both the BCD-3 and the SL G-700 use the same dac (AKM). My Technics ST G-30 sounds excellent. You've read the reviews on the SL G-700, same as myself, I'm thinking about one also. I know a couple online sites where I cannpick one up for $2999, whereas the Bryston BCD-3 goes for $3999. I'm also seriously thinking about a PS Audio Perfeçtwave CD Transport. Of course you or myself would need a separate dac. It's also XLR & I2S through HDMI enabled. It's your option. Either way you go, good luck & happy listening. JJG

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