Is there a truly musical multiple CD player?

California Audio Labs CL-10. They still show up once and while, used, for around $450. The unit does HDCD, has a variety of digital outs if you want to use a DAC, holds five disks, and is built like a tank. And sounds great.

My impressions are that they are mediocre at best, though hooked up to a decent dac, you would have a decent player.

The Parasound Halo Telescope mentioned, is a universal player, not a multi diisc player.

I was going to suggest California Audio labs as well. It will give him a taste of high-end sound and not break the bank(consistant with what he already owns). It's a shame they're not still in the audio business. See that he invests in some decent interconnects while he's at it too(ala Kimber), if he hasn't already.

The Onkyo Integra DPC 8.5 is a 6 disc changer universal player that will decode SACD. It was about $700. The DPC 8.5 has a button to bypass all video circuitry, and this improves sonic detail. It's not bad, but (from what I've been told) would be unlikely to match the sonics of a truly high end single disc player. As far as I have been able to tell, there simply are no ultra high end multi-disc players. However, the sound of this particular player improves GREATLY when it's used with the DAC I have (which is a Dodson 217 Mark II D with the 218-like upgrade, which has also been cryoed, but it was excellent before the cryo as well).

This thread from 2006 may also be of interest:

An Onkyo 6 disc cd changer can make a difference

I keep telling him that if he wants real music he will have to go with a single CD player but what he wants is a multiple CD player. Does a beast like this exist? And if so, what is the best one?

I think your advice is a form of audio "snobbery" and puts down your friend who probably likes music and relaxing a lot more than feeding a CD tray (like an assembly line factory worker).

I think your friend can still get "real music" from a megachanger. If he feeds the optical out to a "re-clocker" and DCA or simply a DAC that has excellent jitter reduction capability then there should be no reason why your friend cannot enjoy a large music collection. Alternatively - propose that he burn everything to a hard drive and use a high quality DAC - but to tell him he cannot have "real music" is hyperbole, IMHO.

Besides, the weakest link will still be his speakers even with a Best Buy megachanger...