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Seeking Budget CD Player Suggestions

I also posted this question in another forum. A friend of mine has an early 90s era Mac CD player which is on its last legs. Great player in its day, but he is on a budget (around $500) and needs to replace it, preferably new, dealer demo, open box, etc. Rotel CD-11 and Marantz CD-6007 have been suggested as top picks in that price range. Any other suggestions, ideas, reasoning for a particular model? If Rotel, would the Tribute or Mk. II edition be preferable? 

chrken
jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

Buy a Sony

winoguy17
1,085 posts
 

 

mahler123
3,051 posts
 

Does his Mac have digital ins that will allow it to be used as a DAC?  If so and he likes the sound of his current player then I would spend the $500 on a CD transport

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,269 posts
 

What exactly is on its last leg? Not reading discs? Reading discs but no sound? What’s the problem? It may be worth fixing the McIntosh.

corelli
947 posts
 

As above.  The actual mechanical transport/laser can be very affordable if you are into DIY (do not know about the McIntosh unit but Marantz/Denon traverse units are not too difficult to replace) -----if you can locate a source.  One would hope a manufacturer like McIntosh would stock these but then again I understand they are not as service oriented as they used to be.

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