I would recommend concentrating on improving your streaming (Streamer and DAC). My streaming is as good as my CD, stored files, and analog. This is possible at many price points. A CD player is a combined transport, streamer, and DAC. If you put your money into a good streamer and DAC. Schiit makes some great DACs: Gungnir and Yggdrasil. A good streamer and you should be able to listen to a nearly infinite library (including the music you own on CDs) for almost no cost.
I have 2,000 CDs that I never listen to because I can listen to them without getting up out of my chair and often they are at higher resolution… although I seldom do because I have found so much new music to listen to.
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The Cambridge AXC35 at only 350 bucks would be a great match to your ML 35XTI folded tweeter. A really nice sounding unit.
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I wanted to get a cd playing system that I thought would be good enough that I wouldn’t be upgrading from it for a while so got an Audiolab cdt 6000 and a Denafrips ares II, I’m very pleased with it. After buying the pieces, reading reviews and others' comments about them, and my own listening I think I made a good decision and am pleased with it, not looking to upgrade. My only recent comparisons are an NAD cd player that I thought was bright and fatiguing and a Schiit modi 3+ that was quite good- no sins of comission just omission, you loose some detail but the overall sound was pleasant.
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Just another option, I had over 1,000 CDs and used a Bluesound to burn them into digital files and used it to “stream” my CD library. I would never go back to playing CDs, so I agree with ghdpentice for the most part. Using the Bluesound software is so much better then a CD player. So this way I didn’t lose my great CD collection. I have now moved up to a Aurender which also has a great streamer built in. So you get to play and manage all your CDs as easy as streaming and still get a better streamer. Some Aurenders even have great DACs built in or you can get one without a DAC. You can bypass the Bluesound DAC.
Sorry for giving you yet another solution, but it worked out very well for me to not upgrade to a better CD player (I had a Rotel by the way which was a great sounding player).
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Here we have yet another thread where someone asks about a CD player, mentions that he likes to both spin CDs and stream, and every one tells him that he should just stream.
The OP mentions that he has thousands of CDs and listens to Classical and Jazz.
Non Classical listeners may have trouble appreciating this but music organization files do a terrible job organizing Classical Music. I also have several thousand CDs and usually can find the desired CD on my shelves in less time than it takes to locate in the streaming software. Making playlists, a laborious and tedious process, helps, but I have had my playlists disappear more than once due to updates in the apps.
Now I don’t know if the issue above is germane to the OP. Perhaps the OP has another reason to prefer to spin CDs. It is just annoying to see a person specifying that they want to play CDs and stream, and watch them be told that they shouldn’t play CDs.
Now, to the OPs question…If you enjoy the DAC in the NAD but find it harsh, yet preferable to the Schiit DAC, I would replace the DAC and use the NAD as a transport. Failing that, I would get a CD player that has digital inputs so if you later change your mind about the Schiit, you can use the CDP as a DAC for other digital sources
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Here on Audiogon there is a Sony 777ES for $950. Plays SACDs as well as CDs. Good price for a top-notch player!
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Here we have yet another thread where someone asks about a CD player, mentions that he likes to both spin CDs and stream, and every one tells him that he should just stream.
@mahler123
Yes, this occurs pretty regularly on this site, a disregard for what the OP specifically is inquiring about. It very clear the OP enjoys streaming but he wants to also spin CDs. This is a straightforward and achievable task , yep, enjoy both!
@xti35 based on your list I’d choose the Audiolab CDT 6000 . This is a very good sounding transport by all accounts. The Denafrips Aries DAC was mentioned above and this modest priced DAC would pair quite nicely with the Audiolab.
Now you have a very nice Redbook CD playback system to go along with your digital streaming. The upgraded transport will make an important and noticeable sonic improvement in my opinion.
Best.
Charles
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I am thoroughly pleased with the results of my ’better’ cd quest:
a used Sony xa5400ES.
sadly they are going up in price it seems, so over your budget somewhat, until a nice deal pops up.
prior search efforts here
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I use Cambridge CXC and Denafrips Ares ll . I feel it is much better than my Marantz CD6006 which is very similar to the CD6007...the Cambridge AXC35 is surprisingly good for the price, though I don't think as good as the others...
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I bought the Audiolab 6000cdt about three months ago and have been very happy with it so far. It sounds better than my older Oppo and as good as my Dying Sony CDP-2700.
All the best.
JD
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Another option to consider. Pro-Ject does quite well providing high level CD playback at reasonable cost.
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I had a Rega Apollo-R which was an
excellent CDP. No harshness, very
analog sound. I only decided to sell
the Rega when I got a Pontus II and
paired it with a Pro-Ject transport.
I recommend the Rega and it can be
found used below your budget.
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+1 Marantz CD6007 bought new 6 months ago and it sounds great. I also stream Tidal but to give an example. When listening to a track like say "Unchain the Night" from the band Dokken streamed MQA on Tdal HI FI and then listen to the same track on the Marantz it is so much better on the cd player just full, clear, and detailed.
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Thank you all for the advice and a great discussion. I failed to mention that I stream Amazon HD using Bluesound Node [most recent model.] Based on the input received my first step will be to upgrade the DAC so that I can both improve Bluesound’s and NAD’s sound [though I am generally happy with the Bluesound’s DAC,] and then add a cd transport. Thanks again!
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Also, I recommend switching to Qobuz.. better sounding and more high Rez albums
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@xti35
That's a good first step. 😊
Charles
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I suggest you try upgrading Modi to Modius first, if your PA has balanced connection. I do not have Modi before but found Modius_XLR is superior to all the entry-level Dac I had. The unison USB connection performance is terrific. Modius is also on par with my mid-tier Dac Smsl Do200 which costs more than twice the price.
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mahler123
You hit the nail on the head, even Roon can't get classical right. Yes and Audiolab is probably the best bet unless you can run to a more expensive Marantz, Denon or Sony
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+1 for the CDT 6000. Blows away any cd player at 2-3Xs the price that I've owned (currently an Oppo 105 with aftermarket LPS module + other upgrades), but as you said it requires a dac. My CDT is connected to an Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5, using a Pangea Premier SE coax cable
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I tried the Audiolab CDT6000 with my Denafrips Ares2 and sent it back...Didn't like what I heard...got the CEC belt drive CDTransport and the "music" coming out is so addicting....I can't wait till the evening when I can enjoy my new "music" system. Belles Aria and Tekton Pendragons and Schiit Loki Mini EQ...Awsome. Inow listen to pure music...not the electronics.
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Sure a belt drive is akin to a belt drive turntable, but is it all in the head that it sounds analog?
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Why not just buy the companion Naim 5cdsi?
It is said to pair very well with the 5si amp. Plus Naim seems to recommend that you use the DIN connection over the RCA. The cdssi comes with the DIN cable in the box. The 5cdsi is a very nice player with an interesting way to load a cd, as you must open the cd tray manually and then apply a puck atop the cd. It seems to have a very good review in WhatHiFi and elsewhere. The Naims paired together should have great synergy. Yes, the 5cdsi is over budget, $1699, but you can grab one for about 10% off from Hawthorne if you call and ask for a deal. Remember, you are only buying it once, so it may be worth it. By the way, I own both the Naim 5si and the 5cdsi....
Lastly, I would be using Naim Nac A5 speaker cables with that Naim 5si...they will ensure that you are getting the very best from the 5si.
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Thanks, I am still considering and 5cdsi is an option. I am currently using RCA to 5PIN DIN connectors for CD player and one of the British made speaker cables that meet Naim Nac A5 standards.
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@buddyboy1 : "Inow listen to pure music...not the electronics." Maybe you’ve never heard a crank up gramophone playing acoustic 78’s! What you think you are hearing with that CEC is caused by expectation bias. The shiny new toy always gives the most pleasure, at least for awhile! Digital is NOT like Analog and the old ideas do not apply - particularly vibration control inside transports or CD players. It is a non-issue even in the cheapest players!
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@jasonbourne52 ...Then go buy a $299 CD player if that's the case and don't even start a discussion about suggestions for a new CD player and take all cd players and transports over $299 off the market....BTW my $599 Arum Beta S Cartridge is just groovy :>)
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How about a Marantz SA-10 coupled with a Chord Qutest. Anyone try that?
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I just bought a Marantz SACD 30n from CapitalSound.ca and I have been breaking it in by streaming music to it via the USB input for the last 5 days from my Innuos Zenith MK3.
The sound is amazing.
I have played some CDs (I do not own any SACD which means I cannot report on those) and it was also playing beautifully.
As the unit gets broken-in more and more, the bass is more accurate and the highs are smoother, and the medium gets richer. Also, after playing the unit for one day, I connected it to the Ethernet via WiFi and requested a firmware update and was able to perceive an immediate improvement in sound quality.
I bought this CD player as a replacement to my old Micromega CDF1 Hi-Tech and I could not be happier.
I have compared early-on my brand new Marantz SACD 30n against my PS Audio DSD Sr. (with Windom and the Edcor XS-4400 transformers mod upgrade) and I can say that the 30n sounded very close to the DSD Sr.
Now, after 5 days, I would say they are very similar in sound quality, with the 30n having a quieter (darker) background to the point I am wondering if I should sell my DSD Sr. for a reduction in audio equipment.
Truly, the Marantz SACD 30n is a great buy.
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