The best CD Player for the money

Thanks, RH - fair enough. Happy to say I did purchase the TEAC. Got a great price on a demo (<<$2000) from Quest for Sound. In addition, Stephen allowed me to do an in-home trial with no obligation other than shipping. My previous experience with CDPs is nowhere near as extensive as yours nor with such sophisticated gear. I'd moved from a Cambridge Audio (D500?)SE to Upgrade Company modified Denon DVR2910 to the Teac. The Teac took a LOT of time to break in and early on I almost sent it back due to "lack of bass". Lot's of detail but not much warmth. Adequate burn-in time certainly took care of that concern. I'm really not sure what is meant by "liquidity" or how this would translate into something missing from my own listening experience. Bad CDs still sound bad although the up sampling feature seems to help in this regard. Todd Rundgren's remastered "A Wizard a True Star" is just about impossible to listen to. Upsampling helped with this recording. Lucinda Williams, "World Without Tears" redbook CD serves as a good example of a great recording that's even more enjoyable played by the Teac. For me, there is just "more" there…more presence of instruments, soundstage, air, bass. Plenty of mid-range bass and warmth because it's there on the CD. Another positive was listening to the SACD version of Peter Gabriel's "Up". Hearing it from the Teac was a goose-bump inducing, hair-raising experience….and I mean that in a good way. An uncanny sort of in the room presence. I was drawn to the Teac initially based on design. Dual DACs, twin power supply, high rez capable, digital in options (used with V-Link USB converter it has made the V-DAC I was using redundant), balanced XLR out terminals. These considerations checked off some boxes for me that the candidate Marantz players (8004 or 15S2B) did not. Cosmetically the Teac (mine in silver) is a beautiful unit and I like the design approach…not fussy, almost minimalist but providing exactly the needed functionality. Set up is extremely easy compared to some of the very well-regarded hi value offerings that also do video. Couple of things that "bug" me about it: 2 second delay between tracks on SACD. This interrupts the music when one track fades continuously into another with out intentional recorded gap between the tracks; also (minor) no way to open the loading tray from the remote. FWI - running the Teac with tube pre and amps (Consonance Cyber 50 & 800SEs). Will also use it with a Hegel 200 (anxious to try balanced IC). Speakers are Totem Forest. ICs right now are Anti-cables. Do plan to try some others.

For Audiolabyrinth as to why would someone buy the Teac and not the entry level Esoteric? For some of us, a $4000 price differential can be a strong inducement.

Ghosthouse,
I'm glad you like your TEAC. As you know, I went for the Marantz but in the end, it's all about what gets you down the path.

As revealing as these players are, with respect to the higher cost brands I think most of the added costs are in the casing and hardware (vault like transport mechanisms, isolation techniques, etc.). When one gets down to the end result (the actual sound) it all boils down to perspective and preference as one is only different and not necessarily better.

All the best,
Nonoise

@ Ghosthouse, Hi, Thats what I was looking for, the price difference between the Esoteric K-07 and the Teac cd-3000, Now all has made since, I understand when it comes to cost, cheers.

Hi Audiolabyrinth - my apologies for a bit of a testy reply to your question about why the Teac vs Esoteric. I had assumed you knew the pricing on the two pieces.

Nonoise - I was really looking hard at Marantz. Your input certainly a factor in that. If you don't mind, what ICs are you running between yours and amp or pre?

hi ghosthouse:

I could not find the quote you cited. I would say however, that I was not making a comparative statement between the teac and the Marantz and Vincent.

if you could cite the part of the review you cited, it would be easier to give a definitive answer.

given the information, I would guess the explanation is either one of the following:

a comparison between redbook and sacd or redbook and hrx

or

a general statement of a comparative nature relative to a number of cd players I have auditioned, but not suggesting that the teac exhibited these properties but that the Marantz or Vincent did not.
so , without further information, I would say it was a general comment comparing the teac to all other players I auditioned prior to reviewing the teac.

I would however, say that it is more likely that I am comparing redbook to another layer.

I would like to comment about the Marantz vs the tac.

I found the Marantz, while highly resolved, sometimes it was distracting and seemed that the level of detail exceeded that which one would experience when listening to
live music.

for me the teac is ideal for reviewing, because it is an honest player.

it removes a source of coloration that other players have.

i'm not sure. I may buy it myself. my ps audio perfect wave dac is in repair.

I would like to compare the ps audio pwt and pwt to the teac, in redwood mode.

one other issue with respect to the Vincent I do not understand.

the sound of the cd player changes from day to day.

yesterday it sounded very full bodied and today it sounded more detailed. I had played a cd for 48 hours prior to listening to the Vincent, and then observed the tube warmth. I turned it off and listened again today. the tube warmth disappeared.

by the way, you need to use a CD mat with the teac. i'd suggest the millennial mat. it really improves the treble response. the millennial mat is a carbon fiber mat.