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Help regarding SACD/CD players

Yes, I still spin the cd's, and I love them. I love shopping for them, organizing and reorganizing them (sometimes on the same day), admiring my organizational skills (and then lamenting my lack of them), and rediscovering that I own this-or-that-cd after almost buying it earlier that day. Consider it an irrational fetish, if you must; insist (to yourself) that I should grow up and join the streaming community; laugh at my growing collection of SACD's, declared all but dead years ago. But, if you have the kind of advice I'm after, please offer away.

I have a modest living room system, powered by a fabulous Luxman receiver from the late 1980's. I play my cd's through an NAD player (which I run through a Schiiit Audio Multibit DAC), and SACD's through a Yamaha BD/DVD/SACD/everything-else player.

Here's my question. Does it make better sense to:

1. Get a really good (within reason, and probably used) SACD/CD player to do all the work? Maybe something from Arcam or Marantz, or something in that general price range? Any suggestions on what I might look for?

2. Keep SACD-ing through the Yamaha, which sounds good, but replace the NAD with a transport (I like the Audiolab 6000CDT better than the Cambridge Audio), and then graduate to a better DAC? I have a whole lot of cd's, and relatively few SACD's, so the priority is with the former.  

3. Come up with some heretofore unthought of option? (Yes, I will likely secure a Bluesound Node 2i at some point, but I'm an inveterate incarnationalist and gotta have my discs, silver and vinyl. Cleaning, holding, admiring; they're like children! I love my babies.)

4. Just shut up and continue to play on what I have? My wife favors this option, though she has yet to learn that it is but one option. 

Thanks,
Tony


 
anton99
anton99 OP
55 posts
 
D—

No worries. Thanks for the information.

Question: You note the risk involved in buying older units. I've been warned against buying a used player of any kind that's over 2-3 years old, no matter the quality when built. Difficulty in replacing parts, too many moving parts to last a long time, that kind of thing.

Your thoughts? There's a Bel Canto SACD/CD player available at a great price, but it's over 10 years old. Likewise, I come across a lot of Oppo pieces when searching. Are all these choices that big a crapshoot? Should I focus on new players, or maybe just get a really good DAC and run my current players through it? I'm tempted to grab a used player, but don't know the wisdom in doing that. Thanks again.
andera's avatar
andera
37 posts
 
What's all the fear about older players? It makes it sound like they are completely unreliable... and if you buy a used CD player it WILL break down. We know that is not true. How many people have NOT had any issues? I purchased my YBA used, and it's now over 20 years old. Never had a single issue... mind you... it's a top loader, so less moving parts. Is it sales people saying this... pushing for NEW sales, or just someone who had this experience?I tend to take things that people say as a suggestion... not as truth or fact. Live from your own truth, not someone else's Fear : )
dorkwad
548 posts
 
Tony,

Did you try to talk to Dan at Modwright?  I can give you his number if you'd like.

Bob
dorkwad
548 posts
 
The MW players are a significant leap in sound over stock players, even very good ones.  I don't have experience with the Oppo 83 MW version, but I did have an Oppo 83 for a few years in a second system.  It did everything fine, but I'm dead certain the MW version would be super fine in comparison to it.  MW three six oh,  two for seven six six eight eight.

Bob
anton99 OP
55 posts
 
Andera—

Yikes, didn't mean to push any buttons. I'm certainly prepared to be corrected, but I've both read and been told personally that buying a used player is to be avoided. I didn't follow that advice, actually, as my NAD cd player was a few years old when I bought it.

But the guy who most recently told me to avoid them has been in audio repair for almost 40 years; he works out of his home these days, mostly on McIntosh. I'd be glad if he was being overly cautious, as there are several players on Audiogon I've looked at longingly.

I've not a lot of experience here, so I gotta trust the word of someone else, at least till I gain some of that experience. And those someone elses have mostly been skeptical. I'll gladly balance their skepticism with your experience, though I will proceed with due caution; $ is involved, and I tend to keep things I buy for a long time.

Any brand suggestions on good cd or sacd/cd players you can make?  
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