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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
sj00884's avatar
sj00884
80 posts
 
There is a dearth of players available at the ~ $700 price point really. I would go new the get the latest and great available. In the past I have had both onkyo and Nad at that price point and both were exception at sound retro, However the Nad had a series of quality issues that I finally gave up on, the onkyo just died of old age.
I recently purchased a a Denon 800NE and have been happy thus far. I still believe there is some burn in improvement on the horizon. Please use decent interconnects as they do matter. 
https://usa.denon.com/us/product/hifi/cdplayers/dcd800ne
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,005 posts
 
@sj00884 What interconnects do you like? I'm getting the Cambridge CXC transport and it has SPDIF Coaxial or Toslink Optical outs. I've read that there's no difference with optical, but for Coax, any thoughts?
lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
688 posts
 
Ever since I moved my 600+ cd collection out of their jewel cases and into notebooks to save space, I just don’t listen to cd as much as I used to.  So I also was wary of spending a lot of money on a CD player.

Im also old school and my other unit is an Oppo DV970, a 24 bit/192 player that was a budget component of the year that I’ve had for about 10 or more years and is indestructible.  In the past I’ve owned a CAL DX2, Audio Alchemy DDS3, AMC CD6 (1 bit player) and a Proceed PCD2 that I truly regret selling.

A month ago, I picked up a near mint Rotel RCD855 for $40 and couldn’t be happier.  It’s built really nicely and works perfectly too.  There is definitely something to be said for this old 16 bit TDA1541 chip.  It’s warm and very listenable sounding and if I want to do better, I can always just get a better DAC, but for now, pleasantly surprised and very happy with it, especially since it was only $40.  
This hobby need not be expensive.  I’ve proven again and again the opposite of the Linn approach, which is to have the best source components you can buy because it all gets amplified downstream, which makes total sense.... however, in contrast, I have a $40 CD player on good revealing gear and it sounds pretty darn good!

Amp:  Nikko Alpha 130 & custom EL84 amp
Preamp:  Museatex AVC1 & FT Audio passive
Tuners:  NAD 4300 & Perreaux TU1
TT:  $60 LSA/Columbia (pre Denon)
Cass:  Nakamichi DR2
Phono Pre:  Creek OBH 8 SE
Speakers:  Castle Durham 900 & Synergistics S22
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roadsterluver
18 posts
 
Agree with "Its Just Me" above.  Just rip your CDs.  I did so a few years ago after selling my McIntosh player and never looked back.  My music is both on my MacBook and in the iCloud.  I then downloaded Audirvana 3.5 ($75) which accesses my streaming accounts (Tidal, Qubuz) and all of my ripped CDs.  I use my MacBook as my streamer. Then I downloaded the Audirvana iPhone app and use my phone as a remote.  I've learned from several dealers that CD replacement transports are becoming harder to get (think Oppo and older model McIntosh for example).  Hence, ripping CDs makes more and more long-term sense,  Best of luck.
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