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Suggestions for New CD Player

I'm looking for a new CD player, modestly priced under $1,500, that will  work well with a 2-channel system featuring B&W 804S floorstanders, a McIntosh MC402 power amp, and a Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver used as a preamp.

My wife and I mostly listen to classical music, and have an extensive CD collection, particularly heavy in orchestral (e.g., Mahler, Beethoven) and opera (Wagner, Verdi) and piano/violin.  (My wife is a Julliard-trained musician.)   Pre-pandemic, we were frequent concert-goers, preferring about rows 8-15.  We also rock out on occasion. We appreciate fine equipment, but we're music-lovers rather than true audiophiles.

We previously had a Consonance Droplet CD player (tubed, nice sound quality, when it worked, which wasn't often enough) and a Lexicon RT-20 (a little harsh, and wouldn't play many discs).  I won't buy a used player.  In my experience, CD mechanisms are the most fragile of all components.

I realize I'm asking a lot at this price point, but life itself is compromise.  Don't really care about wireless capability or digital files.  SACD is nice, but redbook capability is what really matters to us.  Considering Cambridge Audio 851, Rega Apollo, but open to suggestions.

Your thoughts?






gg107
gg107 OP
74 posts
 
Thank you to each one of you for your thoughtful suggestions.  Especially helpful now that the pandemic has made in-person auditioning unattractive.  At this point, I've narrowed it to 3 contenders:

1.  The Yamaha S1000.  I am concerned about reliability.

2.  The Denon DCD-1600NE.  No reservations based on what I've learned, but I suspect the Yamaha may be more pleasing -- probably based on the fact that Yamaha is a musical instrument manufacturer.

3.  The Cambridge Azur 851c. A part of the attraction is the built-in DAC, with the promise that it could be run directly into my McIntosh MC402 power amp, freeing the Magnum Dynalab receiver for my secondary system.

I can feel my audiophile impulses awakening after a decade-long sleep.
limodog
10 posts
 
I am still using a Yamaha CDX-520. I bought it used in the 1990s. When it dies I will probably buy the Yamaha S1000.
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
You hit the nail on the head with the Rega Apollo. I love the top load feature and the
hshifi
572 posts
 
Mids are awesome!  https://holmaudio.com/
This is the shop I use in the Chicagoland area. I just listened to this last night. The Cambridge CXC is a very good transport. You will need to figure out the DAC that goes well with your sound signature and type of music. I was in the store a few months ago and a gentleman listened to the four CD players playing mostly classical music and ended up with the Rega. One of the CD players was $3000. He took home the Rega. This is the CD player for you. You really need the mids to reproduce classical instruments. This Rega will do it. 
pmm
239 posts
 
hshifi,

How is Mike Holm doing? I remember when his audio store was from a three story house, in Lisle. My NAD 515 cdp , I bought from there, still working great.
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