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Crazy to buy a 17 year old CD Player?

My ARC CD2 just died...I think the laser finally gave up the ghost.  Any how I've got thousands of red book CDs in my library and need a replacement player.  I'm thinking an ARC CD 3MKII or the Mark Levinson 390S.  Am I crazy to be thinking this?  Got a budget of around $2000.00.  My system, though dated, is made up of higher end stuff: ARC 25 pre amp, ARC VT 150 mono amps, VPI TNT IV, Wilson Witts, all running through Transparent Reference (Balanced).
cmcdaniel5
gary_c
46 posts
 
I would stay with an ARC CD player if that's what you're familiar with and have enjoyed so much. Since the OP didn't mention a preference for digital playback other than a redbook CD player, I wouldn't recommend an outboard DAC. I personally prefer an excellent standalone CD player over an outboard DAC. And while my Oppo BDP-95 or former BDP-83SE are good all-around players, they sound grainy and loose in the bass department compared to any Simaudio CD player that I've owned.
hifijones
117 posts
 

Crazy like a fox.

I bought a Linn Ikemi a few months ago with a serial number in the mid-700,000 range; not sure how old that would make it. So I immediately purchased 2 backup transports for it and I’m hoping that it will outlive me.


The Ikemi absolutely lives up to the hype...no regrets whatsoever.

boneman73
36 posts
 
I just received my (new) Oppo 205. Balanced outputs via Cardas cables into my Jeff Rowland gear. It is well beyond my expectations. Honestly - and SACD's and DVD-A sound great - I'm most impressed by CD playback. It makes me question the higher resolution formats...and frankly I haven't sat an critically listened to digital in a while. 5 sampling filtes - I ended up leaving it at the default 'brick wall', but some of the filters definitely shaped the top end in various ways. All this to say - it's a $1300 +/- player which is brilliant, with the very latest transport (note, I didn't say DAC etc etc - but that is true, as well) and media player (if you choose to embark on any other formats). The transport - if you want to play with other DAC's - is brilliant as well. For your budget - give it a try - let it burn in/settle in for a while, and see if you like it. I sure did mine. You could also send it in for a mod if that is to your liking.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,580 posts
 
Thanks! for sharing All.
good to read that so many of you still enjoy a cd player.
Happy Listening!
whitestix
709 posts
 
Let me be the last in the thread to suggest an upgrade to an Oppo CD player.  I have had the 103D for several years and with a $375 upgrade from Stereo Dave's Audio Upgrade (which was without a doubt the most efficacious tweak I have ever had done to an audio component in my system), it is an excellent CD player.  I have run the Oppo signal through several different DAC's, including the Schiitt Gungnir and Channel Islands Audio VDA 2, and hear no improvement in SQ compared to running the Oppo straight into my preamp.  To my way of thinking, Oppo CD players offer unbeatable performance for mid-fi prices.  
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