Top 5 sounding cd player in the 1000-2000$ range

Phill, have you considered a used Esoteric DV 50? The only difference between the DV50 and the 50s is upgrades to the video side anyway. The DV50s seem to have dropped below the $2,000 price point.

I have not done much to try to maximize the performance of my CA. You may likely be correct in the better feet improving their units. Also, you should factor in the last three CDPs I have used that I have been happy or at least satisfied with (Wadia, AA Capitole, Opus 21 w/GNSC). All of which a many times the price of the CA. So perhaps, in comparison my expectations are not fair. On the otherhand, if you don't have a dealer or a method to listen in advance, I wouldn't jump too fast.

I honestly wish you the best results with your decision.

The problem is I'm still into vinyl and when done right and set up correctly digital is a poor cousin in my opinion. Because of the results I've had with vinyl I don't take digital as seriously so I budget a lot less for a Cd player or a Dac. I sold my Eastern Electric Minimax tube CD player (very good player) and decided to get along with a Pioneer DV-440 DVD player, that didn't last long and now I'm looking for something that is listenable and have decided to go for a CA 640, 740 or 840. I've also owned a Benchmark Dac 1 recently and really did not like its mechanical or unmusical sound. I'm going to take my time and listen to what I can before deciding on a player. Thanks for your input, I appreciate your advice.

Phill

I have owned the CA 640C v1 and now own the CA 640C v2. Several key improvements including better power supply and two DACs instead of one make the version 2 significantly better than the original in terms of smoothness, timing, resolution, low level detail and bass definition. I like this player very much FOR THE COST. Other players in this price range have different strengths, but none can touch this one in terms of information recovery. I think it raised the bar for this price point when it came out, and CA seems to be on an aggressive upgrade and product development path.

With that said, both of the 640C v1 and v2 are on the forward side of neutral and sacrifice some overall depth and width of the soundstage in favor of resolution and instrument placement. Neither one should be considered in the league with $1-$2K players, new or used, and to do so would be a joke.

Back to the original point of the thread, the 840C is a completely different animal with better DACs and other parts, very sophisticated processing algorithms and upsampling. I have heard the 840C briefly and was impressed. While the build quality on the 640C is high for it's price range - essentially the same level of finish on the $1400 840C is only ordinary, but "look" with your ears first.

In addition to the other players mentioned in the thread above, I would offer honorable mention to the NAD M5 CD SACD player. I have only heard the Simaudio CD1 once and can't offer a well developed opinion on that yet - I would say it sounded very neutral and pleasant. I have not heard the Marantz SA8001 but it is suppose to be a lot of player for the money (<$900).

My current Top 5 list between $1-$2K based on personal experience and reviews by others would be in no particular order:

-Naim CD5i
-Rega Apollo
-Cambridge Audio 840C
-Underwood HiFi Mini mod Shanling CD 3000 (or other Shanling)
-Musical Fidelity A5 (used).

Just got rid of a MF A5 for a Tri CD4SE (Triode Corp of Japan) and if you are after a player to compete with the more popular CA840, CD-128 and Astin Trew 3500 then make sure you give it an audition if you can get your hands on one. It has the same pickup as the raysonic and Ayon with nice caps from Auricap and Wima, has balanced connections too as well as standard and has a nice little ECC88 valve in the output stage. All that means nothing if it sounds bad! The good news is it sounds great with most types of music, it is as smooth as my old Shanling CD3000 but actually has PRaT and also draws you into the music emotionally which the Shanling didn't do for me. I'm listening to CD's that I had no satisfaction in the past and i'm getting "involved" with them. Just remember there is more than just great detail and a massive soundstage when choosing a CD player. You will know what i'm talking about when you hear that magic.

If you can find one within that price range, my strong recommendation would be to consider a used APL or Exemplar modified Denon 3910.