2. digital
  3. 149933-115766

What Sonically is the Difference between a $1,500 CD Player and a $10K-$25K One?

I realize opinions may vary, but if I could give an example of two CD players perhaps someone can give me their thoughts on the cost benefits of either one? What would be the difference in your opinion between say a Cambridge Audio Azur 851C CD Player and the Gryphon Scorpio S CD Player? And are the difference truly audible or more technical and rather indiscernible through human hearing?

In general, what makes a CD player (other than build components) 10x more costly than a decently built one other than features?
mrc4u
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...what makes a CD player (other than build components) 10x more costly..."
Someone's willingness to pay for it. Parts rarely account for such a tremendous difference.

Having said that, more expensive things have, in my experience, sounded better every time. Whatever that "better" is. It must be something in engineering, but I suspect the crucial part is DAC.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"I have LP’s bought 50 years ago that play perfectly."
Have you ever changed the stylus?

"I have many CD’s out of 400 or so that just wont play - not just on fussy hi-fi but in the standard car CD player"
That is what happened to me when CD player's laser started dying.

Are the CDs that did not last original/bought ones or you burned them yourself? Those burned do get messed up after a while. I do not have 50 year old CDs, but some are approaching 30 and last I checked they were fine.
jl35
4,014 posts
 
I think I’ve had maybe 2 CDs go bad out of thousands covering 30 years. 
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"My $5 Sony Walkman CD player outperforms any $10,000 CD player. You just have to know what you’re doing, that’s all."
Apparently, you do not know what you are doing with $10 000 CD player, that's all.

If looking at eBay, there is currently no Sony Walkman CD player that would set you back only $5. Shipping ruins it.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Glubson, apparently I know more than you do. Mystery Solved! 🤗 I don’t mean that in any derogatory way. 
More to discover