2. digital
  3. 154236-139155

Considering getting a CD player (again). Used? New? Criteria?

After years without one, I'm considering getting a CD player. I'm not against streaming, but I have many CD's and would like the simplicity of just playing them from time to time. I probably want to cap my expenditure at $700, or so, because this won't be the only way I play music.

A few questions:
If you've purchased a new CD player, what did you buy? Why?
If you've purchased a used player, how old is too old? What factors helped you choose?

My concern with used is that the transport mechanism of older players will be getting tired, and this won't be knowable just because a unit "checks out" with the site (or individual) testifying to the player's working condition. There's got to be an average point for many machines to give up the ghost, mechanically (varying from machine to machine, of course).
128x128hilde45
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,117 posts
 
I appreciate the info about the Rega valve, but I’m hoping to cap this expense around $700 or so, and that suggestion is around $11k ( https://soundorg.com/valve-isis-reference/ )

I’ll look into the Emotiva, the Cambridge, and the Rega Apollo used. The Emotiva's 5 year warranty is really confidence-building, though Marantz's 3 year warranty is decent, too.

The challenge with audio is knowing where to spend big and where to spend moderately. With CD’s, I know that there will be other ways I’ll be getting my music, so this decision to spend moderately is a straightforward one.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
Buy new (because of transport) and get the most expensive Marantz you an afford.  Marantz>Emotiva ~sound.
mesch
3,529 posts
 
You could purchase the 1st gen Cambridge CXC transport new for close to $300, leaving you  up to $400 for a DAC. What do you use for streaming now?
kevinhughes77
21 posts
 
Just bought my CD player in 20 years and I am loving it. Got tired of material being disappeared From the streaming services. Bought a factory referred Cambridge Audio CXC for $300 on EBay direct from Cambridge and I push it through an Yggdrasil. Sounds great - at least as good as Tidal and I am working through the old boxes of CDs.time to hit the used bins for some bargains.
jacahn
28 posts
 
I significantly updated my two-channel system in spring 2019, including a Bryston BCD-3 cd player. It is highly regarded and it sounds great on all of the 1000+ CDs that I own. However, as the salesman warned me, I rarely find myself playing CDs - I am either streaming Qobuz, or playing LPs.
More to discover