Best Circa 90's CDP


Hi friends,

I am looking for a short list of the best CDP from the 90's era. I own a few hundred Redbook CD's that I want to enjoy again. I am very nostalgic about the nineties as that's when I first got into the hobby. 

Thanks for your recommendations in advance. 

Stan

 

 

 

anacondastan

Check out the Arcam FMJ CD23T.  I believe this was released in the very late 90's and it was noted for its Ring DAC which had been licensed from DCS.  I have one and for fun I  did an A-B using it's optical out to a Geshelli Labs DAC (J2 w/AKM4493 chip).  After all these years the Arcam was very close to the Geshelli J2 though the J2 was audibly a bit more precise.  Lots of info if you do a search.

@cleareye2

+1 for the ARCAM FMJ CD23T spinner.

I had one …

 

@anacondastan 

If you are married to the old stuff with all its warts and distinct and inevitable assured risk of cd laser or cd transport failure from old age, then think this one as a fine performer indeed.

http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/revequip/arcam_cd23t.htm#:~:text=%22The%20CD23T%20achieves%20a%20stunning,by%20tweaking%20this%20and%20that

 

Sony SCD-1 also plays SACD.

Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 98 was a Dutch-modified Marantz CD player that had favorable reviews.

Forgot to mention the Mark Levinson 39 CD player.  Came out in the '90s and upgraded to the 390S in the 2000s.

if you can find a denon 3560 (or the lesser 2560) it's a helluva player--massively overbuilt, with xlr and variable outs. the much cheaper, less formidable-looking rotel 855 is also pretty great.