Redbook for the long haul


At this point, I'm not interested in SACD (until the format wars settle down), and I'm not necessarily interested in getting a DVD player to use as a redbook transport. So, if I want to stick with redbook CD, what players or transports are worth buying for the long haul? What high-quality units will have service support and parts availability for the next few years?
jdombrow
Emm Labs. I'd get the Emm Labs because it is the best CD player out there.
Take the SACD capability as a bonus.
This blows away that; that blows away this; my CD Player can beat up your CD Player. I get so tired of hearing the same crap over and over that the majority of everyone is doing is spinning in circles like a cat chasing his or her tail. Fact is that most listeners run out and grab the most talked about digital gear that is available at the time only to get it home and realize that there was no magic "Night & Day" difference...oh maybe if the player they replaced was $149.00 Fred Meyer midfi unit, I'm talking NIGHT & DAY. The digital war has been going on now since 1995/1996 and we are still on the battleground. I have played the game myself only to come to find that some of, if not the best, digital for Redbook playback has already been built. It’s just to bad that some of the key players that designed and built the stuff could not stay up with the companies with deeper pockets or could pay for padded reviews to one major Stereo Magazine Publisher. However, this is not bad for the guys like us who are looking for quality built and performing digital source gear at a bargain price. Think about it, there was a reason some of the best DAC's and CD Players cost $5000.00 to $12,000.00 back in the early years, they were good, and still are today. The best part is you can buy them at 70-80% off their original retail price and still have something that sounds as good, if not better, then what you people are chasing down today. Its your money, take a chance on some older Transport/Dac combos from Theta, Wadia, Vimak, Timbre or PS Audio, just to name a few, and toss in a tube preamp and listen for your self. I’m settled in on a DAC that was built back in 1998 and have yet to find a replacement. Electronics is not all that sophisticated, I don’t worry if the unit may go down, there is a lot of good techs around the Audiophile Community who could more then likely fix anything you throw their way. Steve Huntley for starters comes to mind.

SACD/HDCD/DVD-AUDIO/ Bla!! Bla!! Bla!!!!