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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
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
no doubt there are some truly great cd players out there, some from many years back, i still have several

regarding reliability, one specific word of caution is that lasers in these cd players are analogous to light bulbs... they can and do burn out, and often replacements are not available

so folks who wish to stroll the all time greats of cd players of the past should be aware of this

my apologies in advance if this has already been mentioned in an earlier post, and i missed it
ghdprentice
7,491 posts
 
All categories of components have made huge improvements in sound quality over the last 20 years… huge. And in general, as always, the more you spend (assuming good research and a carefully chosen component) the better it will sound. You listen to your system as much as I do. If you do the math of 3 hours a day for 20 years, then spending more is a pittance given the enjoyment you get. Spend a lot. 
pmm
240 posts
 
If you insist on a SACD player for hybrid discs, why not one of higher level Yamahas for 2-4 grand?
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bigtwin
1,305 posts
 
This may seem like Sacrilege but I use a $500 Audiolab 6000 CDT as a straight transport, into a very good DAC.  I have listened to players that are more than 5 times the money and I just can't hear the difference.  The rest of my system is moderately high end, my cables and interconnects are very respectable.  The only drawback is this particular player reads regular CDs.  Won't read the SACD format. Have found many ways to spend the extra money.  
styleman
132 posts
 
+1 for the Bryston BCD-3
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