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Best CD player from this list

Hi all,

Question 1: Which is the best sounding CD player from this list:

1. Cambridge 840c

2. Cambridge 851c

3. Ayre CX-7e MP

4. Bryston BCD-1

5. Meridian 508.24

6. Rotel RCD-1572

 
Question 2: Which player in this list will sound best with a Levinson 383 integrated and Revel F30 speakers?  I would be using XLR connections. My cabling is Harmonic Tech pro 9 reference biwire speaker cables and pro silway II interconnects. I can swap out interconnects if there is a better match. Power cables are Audience Powerchord for both amp and cdp. I’m not looking to go with separate dac and transport as that adds more cost for additional cables, etc. My musical tastes are primarily pop, rock, electronic. 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

jsbach1685
mr_m
1,900 posts
 

I have a Cambridge 851C  cd player and really like it, but I could also see the Ayre or Bryston being just as good or better.

vdotman's avatar
vdotman
145 posts
 

Have you considered the Marantz SA-K1 Ruby? Great sound with both CD and SACD. Very well built to boot.

ilkeresmer
42 posts
 

Ayre CX-7e MP is my favorite my best!

dinosore
108 posts
 

I just retired my Meridian 508.24 and I think the sound quality still holds up pretty well today. However, that model is nearly 25 years old and I wouldn't recommend buying one unless you were able to get it dirt cheap.  I doubt you can get parts to keep it running.

jsbach1685 OP
145 posts
 

Thanks again for all the feedback. Based on all this info, I decided to give the 851c a whirl. I recently picked one up on the used market from the original owner. It arrived this past week and had one demo session thus far. I have much more listening ahead, but my initial impression is that it’s a much more fuller sounding, more dynamic and more detailed player vs. the 840. I immediately noticed some details in my reference music that I had not noticed before. The 851 also seems to sound better with my interconnects… Harmonic Tech pro silway II. I was initially beginning to wonder if the silway II’s were a little too lean and detailed for the 840; which they still may be. I will continue to update as I get more listening time under my belt. 

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