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Thinking about a new, lower end CD Player

My current CD player is a basic, older Sony, probably 10-12 years old. Works fine but I could use it in another location with a lower end system. It seems to sound about as good as my Arcam CD92 that lost its DAC a while back.

So now thinking about buying a new CDP and have a couple of questions.

I’d like to keep this in the $300-500 range for units with internal DAC. Not looking for SACD player. Other than a remote, not looking for special features or multi disk players.

I’m guessing that in this price range SQ is probably comparable to other units in that range.

First, is a CDP in this price range going to sound any better than the old Sony?
Second, if not, is there any reason not to just buy a comparable $200 unit?
Third, for units in this price range ($300-500) is there any reason to look for one with balanced output capability and if so, is there any way to know if it is truly balanced.

Thanks all,

George


n80
bluesmen
5 posts
 
There are some great deals on EBay if you take your time and keep watching for someone that's upgrading there system. I'm very happy and friends are amazed when they come to my house and hear the amazing music details they've never heard before. 
Concerts are so expensive now tickets that used to cost $5 -$7.50 are now hundreds of dollars to hear the drunks around you singing! I guess I've seen almost every musician I have ever wanted to see and some are no longer with us except on recordings!  BB King, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, The Beatles, The Dead, The Allman Brothers ,Jefferson Airplane and many others are getting old like me! L
n80 OP
2,117 posts
 
I've had three CD players in my lifetime. All three have had a failure of some sort but all have approached the 20 year old range. I'm not sure how old this most recent Sony was. It came new in the box from my uncle's estate but had been sitting around for years. Then it lived in my cabin for close to 15 years in which the temperature inside was the same as the temp outside unless we were there. Low teens to over 100. So not an easy life.

I also don't know how old the Arcam is. It sat in a musty basement for a number of years and got moved around a lot. Of course it is still functioning as a transport.

So I can't really complain.

My system is also older. Maybe 15 years, maybe more. Right now I could not afford to replace it at the current SQ. I think it was probably $15k when new.

Sometimes I wonder how much it would cost to replace it if I did a lot of research and hunted for bargains.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"And another thread takes a dive into the sewer!
Great job guys!"

Thanks to the troll-in-charge geoffkitten to pull this off and trashing yet another thread...
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
"And another thread takes a dive into the sewer!
Great job guys!"

Thanks to the troll-in-charge geoffkitten to pull this off and trashing yet another thread...

May be right sentiment but this thread has redeemed itself and got back on track.
n80 OP
2,117 posts
 
Yep. Please do not poke the trolls. ;-)
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