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CD Player Recommendations 5-8k range please help

Okay guys, looking for recommendations for CD players or trans/dac in the 5-8k range, new or used. My system: 380s Levinson preamp, 336 Levinson amp, B&W Diamond 801 speakers, Audioquest cables. I own and have been using the Levinson 390s cd player (very good all around, maybe lacking in detail?), and recently tried Ayre CX-7e (impressed, good detail and bottom end, but soundstage not as good?). Why am I upgrading? Made the mistake of buying a VPI Scoutmaster, Shelter 501 mk2 cart, and Sutherland PHD phono preamp. Mistake? Not really, the sound with good vinyl kills the cd players I have, but I do not have time for all that is required with analog. I sold the analog system, and am searching for that great sound from a cd player. Help! Any suggestions for me? Thank you in advance!
corvette_tuner
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audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,966 posts
 
Not true if you buy smart and buy used.

Tvad, valid point.

But hear me out, with the current cabling in that system, Levinson/B&W combo's full potential is not realized. I personally think that Levinson is a really fine player and given the context of the system, there should be synergy. The interconnects I am talking about should run around $800 tops for both pairs, the Silver RefII and Matrix RefII. They could easily be sold if the improvement is subtle, although I am willing to bet that they will take the system to a completely new level. Now once that is done, please go ahead and buy another CD player.

and this, BTW, is a bold statement to make.
A used Modwright Sony 999ES with the new tube rectified power supply would run around $2000 used, and it would leave the Levinson far behind.
arthursmuck
451 posts
 
Chuck - what's the name of the company whose cable you're referring to? Thanks
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brb9
33 posts
 
I used a Bel Canto CD-1 which is recent vintage and state of the art. Unlike other analog components, I have found that state-of-the-art really does make a big difference with digital components as the technology improves so quickly. Tweaks will help smooth over the inadequacies of the older digital equipment, but it is no substitute for owning digital equipment that uses state of the art processors (and, of course, good design).

Anyway, now I've changed to using a DAC because I've put all my CD's onto the computer.
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