Best "RedBook" player out there

Another option: Get a Bluesound Vault 2. You can rip ALL your cds to FLAC files. Also have the ability to stream hirez files. I think Tidal, Spotify and other sites will be offering better and better digital sound files such as MQA. With this option you can also keep upgrading the external DAC in the future. This way you can have all your cds stored as FLAC files AND have many more musical playback options.....

I believe your Sonic Frontiers has a tube output stage? I think an Audio Note UK CD 1.1x would give you what you're looking for.

Maranta reference series! Marantz and Mcintosh and Denon are owned by same company and share technology! Even the lower end Marantz has its advantages! Marantz products arnt like in the the 60's and 70's , but their still quality!

pennsyMaranta reference series! Marantz and Mcintosh and Denon are owned by same company and share technology!

That's no longer true. McIntosh was sold by D&M Holdings, who still own Marantz and Denon. Mac was sold to Fine Sounds, who also owned Audio Research. The company was then taken private and now calls itself McIntosh Group.

spaz

To get the very best out of RedBook (pcm), get a R2R Multibit player, like a Mark Levinson No 39, or a Linn CD12 MkI, II or III, or a Naim CD555 with or without 555 power base. All these have the proper Pacific Microsonic hdcd chip in them.
My pick in order would be Naim then Linn the ML

Cheers George