Do You Remember Your First CD Player?

sony cdp-501es in 1985 that i bought in japan prior to getting out of the navy. sold it in the early 90s when it started skipping. built like a tank and weighed a substantial amount as i recall.

Hello,

My first CD player was the Sony CDP-497 in 1996. And then a NAD C520. Finnally, I have now a REGA Planet 2000.

Was yours one that loaded the CDs vertically, where you pushed a button and the tray came out to abour 45 degrees, you laid the CD in and closed the tray, kinda like a cassette? That was my first CD player, around 1985, and I loved it. Of course I was 12 and didnt know any better. I had that little guy up until midway through college when it died.

"Buscis2":

Yes, I sure do.......

Mines was an NAD 5255. I bought it in 1985, and I paid $600.00 (in 1985 dollars) for it. I used it in three different systems for the eight years that I had it. It died in 1993 (it has gotten a lot of heavy use during the time I've owned it). It was later replaced by a JVC XL-M509TN 6 + 1 CD Player/Changer. And compared to the NAD that it replaced, it turned out to be a piece of shit. No soundstage....... poor imaging....... no bass to speak of, and surely, no dynamics either. But things took a turn for the better three years ago when I took my Pioneer Elite DV-37 out of my home theater system and hooked up (just for the hell of it at the time, and it turned out to be the best decision I've made at that point). I was so surprised by how good its audio section was that it became a permanent fixture in audio system. Now, I think that the Pioneer was several notches better than my old NAD was. And while the Pioneer wasn't considered a world beater then, at least, I finally gotten my audio system back by then, and all was happily ever after after that.

But back to the NAD 5255????? I've gotten this player after a lenghty audition, and I've found out that I've liked the sound of it. The separation was astounding back then. It was one of the very few players that have had separate D/A converters for each channel back then (something that even a lot of more expensive players didn't even have). Before I've the NAD, I was set on getting a Luxman (forgot the model number for $50.00 more at another dealer). And to think that I've used it in three different systems before its untimely death in 1993. It was used in a Polk Audio/JVC/Luxman system back in 1985, a KEF/NAD/Nakamichi system in 1989, and a KEF/NAD/B&K/Nakamichi system in 1990. Man, that brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it???

And back then, my first CD's were the following:

(01). James Ingram -- "It's Your Night" -- 1983
(02). Jeffery Osborne -- "Don't Stop" -- 1984
(03). Culture Club -- "Colour By Numbers" -- 1983
(04). Stevie Wonder -- "Original Musiquarium" -- 1982
(05). Madonna -- "Like A Virgin" -- 1984
(06). Tina Turner -- "Private Dancer" -- 1984
(07). Phil Collins -- "No Jacket Required" -- 1985
(08). Stevie Wonder -- " In Square Circle" -- 1985

And now, my collection is approaching 1,000. And they are being played on a Pioneer Elite DV-37 DVD/CD Player. I'm still trying to scrape together enough pennies to get that Meridian 507 and then an SACD Player after that. If I don't ever get around to getting that Meridian, then I understand that there is always a Cambridge Audio Azur 640C or a Rotel RCD-1072.

--Charles--

My first player was an Alpine AD-7200. It was in the mid 80's and paid around $1K CDN for it. Kept it for several years and sold it. Used a Sony ?99 portable as makeshit until I purchased a used Sony. Had it for a few weeks and sold the thing. Had a couple more there after until I purchased the PD-65. Now having problems with lack of bass.

Using a cheap Toshiba dvd player at the moment. Can't stand the Pioneer at this point. Was discusted when I switched between the two. If I can't get it resolved soon I'll sell it to a non audiophile and purchase something else. Now between a rock and a hard place. Cheers!