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Vinyl guy seeking recommendation for a top level cd player

I know cds are dead.  Best time to buy a cd player, the way it looks.  I want an all in one box.  I don't stream so a separate DAC is not required.  Most of my cd collection have been ripped to a PC as Flac files and then down loaded to a Sony HAP-Z1ES.  Currently about 3000 Redbook and perhaps 100 SACDs.  The way cds are being dumped I figure on becoming a buyer again so these numbers will go up.  I have looked at Marantz SA10, Esoteric K1 (lightly used), and Luxman D-10X, so far.  It would be good if the sound could approach vinyl.  The Z1 does up to a point.  Listening this morning to the same recordings, the Z1 compares to a high end MM cartridge, but not to a SoundSmith Experion.  Maybe I am asking too much, but in any event a new cd player is being sought.  Thanks in advance for any advice.
Bill
billstevenson
corelli
1,016 posts
 

@billstevenson Always nice to have a follow up post.  Glad you are happy with your purchase. I have very much enjoyed my Marantz Ruby gear.  I saw the close our pricing on the SA10.  Tempting but I am quite happy with where I am at to be honest.

I certainly agree with you on the CD bargains out there.  Most recent purchase of a box set was Sir Charles Mackerras conducting the Prague Chamber Orchestra performing the Mozart Symphonies.  Excellent in both performance and sound engineering!  Get it.

akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,312 posts
 

REGA ISIS VALVE cdp//dac
 

https://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/rega_valve_isis.htm

https://6moons.com/audioreviews/rega2/1.html

billstevenson OP
429 posts
 

"Sir Charles Mackerras conducting the Prague Chamber Orchestra performing the Mozart Symphonies.  Excellent in both performance and sound engineering!"

I have that set too, and could not agree more.  Wonderful.  I also should report that yesterday I was comparing the vinyl and redbook cd versions of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue both circa 2010 versions (not the latest and greatest) and the cd sounds decidedly better.  So I have to amend my comments.  Redbook cd can sound very good indeed and best vinyl at least sometimes.  Finally, what's with all the spam showing up in this discussion?

toronto416
253 posts
 

Thanks @billstevenson for the thoughtful follow up to your Luxman D-10x purchase.

I bought a D-10x one year ago, and in my research prior to purchasing it I read this thread, so it is a treat to re-read it and digest the follow up by the op.

I remember reading that the D-10x was especially good at making Redbook sound good, and I have to certainly agree with that. A lot of jazz and classical recordings from the 1990’s and 2000’s can sound amazing played by the D-10x.

I still buy cds regularly and find releases from Japan online - both Redbook and SACD - jazz and classical recordings.

The cd is not dead, and neither are the producers of superlative cd players such as Luxman, Accuphase, Esoteric etc.  There is still a market for high end cd players!

 

billstevenson OP
429 posts
 

I could not agree more.  The amazing cd is a veritable bargain at the moment too.  The other thing that is interesting to explore is older cds marked AAD, some of which sounded...well let's just say there was a reason people turned away from the format, but now on these new players, which do magic things, a lot of the old cds sound very, very good.  The Luxman is the very best in my experience, with the Marantz really right with it.  I have no experience with others and cannot offer any comment outside of what I know  I am sure there are others, but without a frame of reference just reading a rave is worthless. 

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