CD Player Advice

If acoustic music is your thing you MUST definitely audition a belt driven CD transport before purchasing anything. I just got myself a used Parasound (built by CEC) belt driven transport and my acoustic music just comes out sooo musically involving it's not funny. I never thought CDs could sound like that. The unit's electronics are wanting in bass slam, impact and dynamics when compared to my McCormack SST-1 transport but Dan Wright http://www.modwright.com is going to take care of that soon. Dan Wright is a specialist on digital modifications, so you might want to check his website

A belt drive transport is an interesting choice, I know a couple of people who swear by them and the two I've heard (both made by CEC) were very musical. My own player falls at the top of your range: the Shanling CD-T100, but when you listen to it make sure the unit is well broken-in. This player sounds its best after at least 200 hours (and WE 396A tubes instead of the Chinese stock).

And I gree with Tonnesen. You have to let your ears choose. May I suggest an approach (and I apologize if you already use it)? When you listen, I feel it's important to relax and switch over to the left side of the brain. Let the analytical functions have a rest and let feeling take over while you listen. Try not to compare as you do this. I like to make a few brief notes so as not to forget what I hear, and I use these later to help me compare.

You could spend under $1000 on a fully modded Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 or Jolida CDP, and spend the rest of the money upgrading other components, investing in isolation devices, tuning your room, or buying more music.

jd

Save yourself money,honestly I am familiar with meridian
cd player 508.24.a very good cd player.The AH and the
Jolida are both excellent and musical, but with your
preference the ah 4000 might be your ticket, Kevin is
a very helpful dealer from upscaleaudio,com. Although
for my own preference, I like the jolida.Remember we
all have different taste, the AH with the siemens 7308
tube its very smooth.IMO The best way audition them.

There are two classes of players that are popular, those that are extremely expensive and those that roll-off the highs or at least limit the HF dynamics.

Frankly, if you want to get rid of the sibilance and harshness, you need a better DAC, which you will never get in any player except the ridiculously expensive ones (>$10K). You are better off to get your transport modified to reduce jitter and get a modified DAC, such as the Perpetual Technologies P-3A.