Buying top brands's older CD players: Pros& Con


I recently saw an ad in a magazine audio mark for a Audio Research used/good condition CD-1 CD player; i might be able to negotiate a lower price It was reviewed well in Stereophile in 2005, but in the high end business that is already ancient history. However, has anybody ever heard or owned this machine?? Is the technology of the model and its sound possibly been bypassed by the newer CD players of the last 3 years. The CD-1 first came to market in 1995 which makes me leery of buying; I currently have a Rega Apollo, but want to make a noticeable upgrade in sound, e.g, smoother highs, better bass and imagng Thank you
sunnyjim
The problem with that plan Jim is that by the time you would require the repair the parts probably won't be availible anymore. Manufacturers usually design CDP's around current drives of the day, they buy some to use as spares for repairs, but almost every manufacturer eventually runs out of spares and a new drive design is needed. Unlike a computer, you can't just put any drive into a CDP. So a new model will have a new drive, but if the drive dies in 8-10 years, there probbably still won't be a drive sitting around for a drop in replacement.

Designed obsolescence, they do it because it works. See, you are now looking for a relatively new model. Hence manufacturers will continue to make parts become obsolete to encourage buying new(er). That is not just in audio, we are in general becoming a disposable society.
I use a Resolution Audio CD-50, it's more than ten years old but I haven't heard a cdp I like better and I have heard many. I purchased an extra laser to ensure the machine's longevity.
The cd-1 is no longer supported by ARC, just like the CD-2. The pickups are no longer available, so if it breaks (and break it will) you will end up with an expensive paperweight. If anything, look for ARC CD-3 or later - those are based on the cd-pro2 drive, which is still beeing made.
i owned an audio research cd-1. i wouldn't advise you to buy it.

there are many other players to consider.

i prefer my audionote cd-2. it has a tube output stage. it is about 20 years old.
"The cd-1 is no longer supported by ARC, just like the CD-2. The pickups are no longer available"
"I run a Meridian 508.24... Yet, the transport on that sucker has been unavailable for almost a decade."
Maybe one of these, available from this German entity, will work for you members:

Philips 1

Philips 2

Philips 3
"I purchased an extra laser to ensure the machine's longevity."
That's the ticket: my transport (second owner, since 1998) is only on its second lifetime laser (proper maintenance, too: yearly cleaning, belt conditioning and mechanism/gear lube, just like my R2R's) and - when that goes - I've still got another laser and - when that goes - at 25+ years of component age, well...
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