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Advice needed re: new CD player purchase

Hello everyone. New member but long-time lurker here. My system: Bryston 4B-ST amp, Bryston BP25 preamp, and Meridian 508.24 CD player (all purchased in 1998 and all performing flawlessly), Kimber KCAG balanced interconnects, Audioquest speaker cable, and Esoteric power cords. I have Thiel CS2.4 loudspeakers.

I have about 4500 CDs (about 3% of which are hybrid SACDs). I love my system, but I want a new CD player. Am I right to think that advances in audio technology over the last 24 years have left my Meridian in the dust, sonically speaking? So I have been looking at various players. A few parameters: I will only buy new; I want XLR outputs; and I’d prefer to not spend over 5k.

I’m looking hard at the Bryston BCD-3, and the Technics SL-G700. Having owned Bryston products now for almost 24 years, I’m extremely impressed by their build quality and performance. However, the BCD-3 is not an SACD player. I’ve read a few solid reviews of the Technics, but I’m suspicious of their long-term reliability. There are no dealers where I live or within 200 miles. I looked at the Marantz line, and their only player with balanced outputs is the SA-10, which I’ve heard is awesome but I’m unwilling, at this point, to pay $7500 (although my mind is not closed on the matter).

Anyone here have either the Bryston or the Technics player? Will I notice a marked improvement with a new player (as compared to my 508.24)? Like most of you, this is my life. After work, I listen 2-3 hours per day, sometimes more on weekends. Thanks in advance for your advices.
jeroboam
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
Reliability and for parts, as they say in sports, "The best ability is availability" are important considerations. Since you last shopped this category disc drive demand has crashed harder than a Keith Moon cymbal. 
Bryston's 20 year life maxim tips the scales their direction. I haven't heard a Bryston CD player in years, and have no opinion about the sound of the unit under consideration, but I bet in ten years it will be more likely to be "on the road" than a Jay's or other newcomer. Cheers,
Spencer
pmm
233 posts
 
+1: Go with the most recent Bryston cdp

Hybrid SACD`s can be played on any cd player.


elliottbnewcombjr
5,471 posts
 
Nearly everyone is telling me to get a good transport with appropriate digital output, and a separate DAC. Then you can also use the DAC for streaming as well as SACD/CD Play.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/better-cd-sound-the-search

No matter what, the drawer has to open/close; CD has to spin and be read: belts get worn; internal moving parts get dirty or lube gets sticky and lasers get old/weak or out of alignment and no longer read the discs.

I checked date of manufacture and availability of replacement parts when considering.

I want a combination of single and changer. Space considerations, and no desire to stream, I am staying with a units with internal DAC(s). Cost considerations I am going used.

I researched, determined I wanted dual DACs and decided to try one with Burr Brown DACs; another with Wolfson DACs.

Denon 2910 arrived played erratically for 2 days, then Laser couldn't find the discs at all. New laser arrives Monday, fingers crossed. It plays SACD and CD.

Integra CDC-3.4 changer does not play SACD, I found one made in 2019, it arrives this coming Friday. Belts and Lasers are currently available.

Many units are missing remotes, I limit choices to units with remotes, and it if breaks, replacement remotes available.

Even then: sometimes an unidentified change is made, and a different remote used. Integra used one remote until they issued Mark 2 with a different remote. suffix letter M after the serial # means mark 2, otherwise there is no way of knowing mark 2 exists. It took me many emails to get that answer.




sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
You make a good case for why I ripped my ~600 CDs years ago and play them from a NAS. IME, it sounds better too, YMMV. With 4500 discs, that would be a real tall order! 
It's a shame; maybe some boutique company will start a renaissance of transport building. Where's the Wadia guys when you need them? Cheers,

Spencer
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,734 posts
 
sbank
Another +vote for Wadia. The fan base is certainly there for a Renaissance.
Happy Listening!
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