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Suggestions for New CD Player

I'm looking for a new CD player, modestly priced under $1,500, that will  work well with a 2-channel system featuring B&W 804S floorstanders, a McIntosh MC402 power amp, and a Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver used as a preamp.

My wife and I mostly listen to classical music, and have an extensive CD collection, particularly heavy in orchestral (e.g., Mahler, Beethoven) and opera (Wagner, Verdi) and piano/violin.  (My wife is a Julliard-trained musician.)   Pre-pandemic, we were frequent concert-goers, preferring about rows 8-15.  We also rock out on occasion. We appreciate fine equipment, but we're music-lovers rather than true audiophiles.

We previously had a Consonance Droplet CD player (tubed, nice sound quality, when it worked, which wasn't often enough) and a Lexicon RT-20 (a little harsh, and wouldn't play many discs).  I won't buy a used player.  In my experience, CD mechanisms are the most fragile of all components.

I realize I'm asking a lot at this price point, but life itself is compromise.  Don't really care about wireless capability or digital files.  SACD is nice, but redbook capability is what really matters to us.  Considering Cambridge Audio 851, Rega Apollo, but open to suggestions.

Your thoughts?






gg107
noske
783 posts
 
Given that you wish for a new CD player, you will have some difficulty finding one with the TDA 1541 chips in them.  They have been out of production for a long time - 25 years?

You mentioned the Rega Apollo.  They are a tremendous player and comfortably within your budget (I think).  I have the stupidly expensive  Rega Saturn, but quite honestly any difference in sonics is marginal at best and psychological at worst. 

The most recent Apollo has the Wolfson WM8742 DAC.  Its a touch of magic.  Make sure that whatever you get has this chip.
jdmccall56
73 posts
 
I haven't owned it for very long, but I would still recommend the Denon DCD-1600NE.  It has very impressive build quality for $1199.  The disc tray is fairly substantial and operates smoothly and quietly.  It plays SACD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, mp3 and AAC files, and even DSD files burnt onto DVD-R or DVD-RW discs.  Mine is so far, perhaps the best CD/SACD player I've had. 
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scotttubenut
16 posts
 
+1 for the Rega Apollo. The internal DAC is superb and the top-loading feature is very robust. I used coax out to a fantastic Bryston DAC, using the Apollo just as a transport and frankly could hear no difference between using the DAC internal to the Apollo. Great unit.
headphonedreams
527 posts
 
Have you thought about the new streamers with built-in cd-rippers?
You place a cd in it and wait a bit then you can listen to that music whenever you want without putting it in the player.

Like Cocktail Audio CA-X500. There are a couple of others also.

If you want to actually play cd’s I would go with a transport and a dac. That makes it easier to upgrade the dac later or use it with a streamer.
mahler123
3,317 posts
 
You guys love Classical Music.  I would get a Universal Player so that you can play the abundant Classical SACDs and Blu Rays.
Sony and Pioneer make Universal Players, I own the Pioneer which cost a 1K, the Sony goes for around $400.  If you buy the Sony you can add a nice external DAC for 1K and still be under budget and really have a nice system 
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