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CD player recommendations

Hello all,

Just looking for a few recommendations here. After being almost exclusively vinyl over the last few years, I've decided to break out the cd collection again. I have two CD players from the dark ages. A CAL icon mkii power boss and a CAL CL-20. Just wondering what current or newer used CD players would be up for consideration and sound significantly better. I do not have any hdcd's, sacd's, or burned cd's. Strictly red book. Amp is a plinius hautonga driving B&W 804s speakers. Balanced outputs would be a plus since the plinius accepts balanced CD player inputs. Budget is around $1,500

thanks in advance

skipper

skipper320
grinnell
1,113 posts
 

Emotiva  ERC-4 CD with  DAC two inputs

 

has balanced outputs  $599.00 buiilt like a tank

phillyb's avatar
phillyb
402 posts
 

Marantz SA-10 Player. My dealer showed me a great streaming system. It was nice, hip, I took my Marantz in to see on my CD compared, sorry my CD sounded much better, more tone, weight and color, and dynamic, the dealer said to me well it is but and miss, but you got to look at the convinence, I told him why? I have 1,500 CD's, he said you have a point I have no answer for. I grew up on vinyl, had a huge collection, sold them all to a collector, never looked back. 

 

henryben's avatar
henryben
1 posts
 

So I have finally added an external DAC to my system, a Topping E30 I picked up used for $80.

I am running 2 Pioneer units into it. An older DVD player via SPDIF and a 25 disc jukebox via optical.

At this point the CD players are transports only. I see that some folks have dedicated CD transports, but do they make much of a difference?

From my layman’s perspective, with the DAC out of play, the only thing that the CD player is doing is reading 1’ and 0’s from a disc and sending them to my DAC. Or am I a completely ignorant and I am missing something critical?

jafant's avatar
jafant
19,927 posts
 

skipper320

 

Good suggestions as above. Seek out a Plinius cd player to match the Hautonga.

Otherwise, an AYRE, Balanced Audio Technology (B.A.T.), or Rotel works well with your gear. For now, become re-acclimated with your CAL spinners and CD collection. Have fun and Enjoy the music.

 

Happy Listening!

winoguy17
1,158 posts
 

 OP sets price range of $1500. and someone recommends the Marantz SA 10 at $7500. Big help.....

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