Is there a truly musical multiple CD player?

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...

I re-read my post and I hope it was not too strongly worded - no offense was intended but I think that we audiophiles get carried away sometimes in thinking that "anything normal such as a tone control" will necessarily sound terrible and is not real music...this is hyperbole of course. Many systems with tone controls can and do produce excellent sound or "real music" - sometimes we need only temper our zealous enthusiasm with a healthy dose of 'reality'.

Arcam Alpha MCD 6-disc cd changer. Oldie but goodie. -jz

Another oldie but goodie: the Anthem CD-1 from Sonic Frontiers