Avoid anything mechanical if you are buying used as you have no idea how “used” it is. If you must buy used, make sure the manufacturer is still providing transport mechanisms. I had a Krell KAV 300cd with a VRDS Transport and it is now a boat anchor because Krell said the transport is no longer available.
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).
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).
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- 128 posts total
I recommend ripping things to files and then play from a computer connected to a dac or with a player that supports UBS disks or SD cards. If you already have a streamer it may support flac files. I have Raspberry Pi at home and it can handle this. Costs about $50 - $200 depending on if you need a nice case, a better dac etc. You can control it from your phone. https://darko.audio/tag/raspberry-pi/ I also have a DragonFly dac that I can use with a computer or a tablet. The DragonFly Red is about $200 and the new DragonFly Cobalt is about $300. |
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If you want to buy new, the NAD 546 BEE CD player is top rated for sound in the under $700 price range. I bought a NAD 502 as the first CD player I actually could live with sound wise as I was a longtime record listener. They now have the 546 BEE which is a much better sounding player as NAD always continues improving as the years go by. You can get a brand new player for $546 plus tax. The NAD’s just OK looking, but the sound is very good. Bob |
- 128 posts total