Is my dealer lying to me?

it's like the old lawyer joke. how can you tell when he's lyin'? his lips move. -cfb

Take home a couple CD players and hook them up to your receiver. Match the levels and get two or three copies of the same CDs (borrow from friends).

Then you can compare to your heart's content and decide for yourself. Who cares which CD player *I* (or anyone else) like? I'm not the one buying it.

I've done this in the past and I ended up saving a lot of money. More expensive doesn't mean better!

My impression is that Cambridge is well-regarded on this board as a line of affordable audio equipment. It's mentioned a lot for people who need CD player or integrated amp under $500.

For myself, I liked the Cambridge amps better than their CD players, which seemed "bright" to me. But this is a matter of taste, and if the dealer is willing to let you try in your home, it is worth working with him on this.

I ended up going a bit higher in price, spent about $1300 on electronics (amp and preamp), and am still waiting on the CD player!

You may do better to work on the speaker purchase first. If you don't have good speakers that you like (positioned correctly in your room), it will be hard to pick the CD player you like. Trying speakers in your home is even more important than trying CD players, since rooms vary so much in their "sound".

In the store, be sure to audition speakers with your music, and even bring in your receiver if they will let you. Also audition with an amp they suggest that you might be able to afford (you don't want to limit yourself to only speakers that sound good with your current gear, but you don't want to buy speakers that will never sound good with anything you can afford!).

If you can, listen to speakers at several stores. They really do vary, and stores in a given area generally are exclusive reps. That said, working with a helpful dealer can really be worthwhile (someone who spends a lot of time with you on a $400 CD player can be classed as helpful).

Best of luck!

- Eric

I personally feel you get what you pay for. Regardless of brand. That said you should always trust your ears. You heard it with a pair of speakers you are planing on upgrading to and you liked it compared to the cost/sound of the other more expensive players so why not go for it.

If there wasnt a big difference to you compared to the $2500 player then it is going to compare even better to an $800 player.

I have recommended the Cambridge to dozens of people on this site who wanted a new player under $500, but wanted the sound of a more expensive ones. Sterophile said it was comparible to many $800 players in sound that it demos. I think they gave it a Class C. I do not know how much better the D500SE is from the D500. I owned them both, but not at the same time. The D500 has a 20bit DAC, the D500SE 24bit. But the 20bit DAC is of a higher quality spec. according to HiFi Choice Magazine (not that the 24bit is bad).

I remember the "ditch the Cambridge" comment was on a thread on whether to buy a $2000 DAC using a different transport or the Cambridge. It is kind of like saying "ditch the Camry" just because a Lexus is better at $10,000+ more. It is out of context.