The availability of spare parts or replacement lasers /drive transports for many high end CD players is a real risk. I would guess few want to spend big bucks (> $5k) on potential "boat anchors". Esoteric won't sell replacement drives to previously supplied manufacturers like Emm Labs, Oppo is out of business, and even Cary doesn't have replacement parts for its vintage units.
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 have read two very favorable "Stereophile" reviews of the Rega Apollo CD player (the original and the revised version) though I've not heard one myself. According to the 2018 review, the transport (Sanyo, if I recall correctly) is still in production and is used by several manufacturers. The Rega rep who was interviewed for the article stated that Rega has a large number of replacement drives in stock and these are available for future repairs. What wasn't mentioned though was the repair cost. That unit is about $1000. |
@mesch Thanks for the recommendations. I will likely try optical cable first. I've been trying to sort out when and where differences in cables matter -- I know this is a very controversial question and I don't have an opinions of my own. I did see this article: https://www.cnet.com/news/when-are-expensive-cables-worth-it/ which at least starts me on the topic, and I watched a Hans Beekhuyzen video or two about Audio Hygiene. It's clear to me, so far, that there are some cables where it really can matter and others where it's less important. Money, time, and experienced effect (tested with some rigor), are all relevant factors, of course. |
- 128 posts total