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Meridian, Ayre, Musical Fidelity, Ayon, Lector $2k

The current leaders in the $2-3k range for used. What do you guys think?

Meridian seems to be back on track after the cheap CD loader on the G08, though I'm not sure about the sliding CD loader on the G08.2. Are they still KOTM?

Is the MP filter offered by Ayre going to surpass Meridian? The white paper on the Ayre website gets analyzed by the Meridian forum. Cool stuff!

Why do people bash Musical Fidelity? Isn't the A1008 a good single box CDP? Where's the love or is the bashing justified?

What's the deal with Ayon Audio? NKOTB or the real deal?

What will happen with Lector's pricing when the cdp-7t MkIV version comes out?

Will this be THE thread for all those with $2-3k to spend? I'm thinking yes! Regardless, I'd like to know because I need to replace my CDP and posting which is best is like asking someone if their kid is cute.

My system:
Yamamoto A-08S
Zu Definition Pro w/Rane PEQ55 EQ
Canary CA-903 Line stage
Canary CA-400 Phono stage
Roksan Radius V w/Zyx Airy cart.
aceboympk
adamg
89 posts
 
I am also looking to purchase a CDP in the 2-3k range

I have narrowed it down to the following:

ARC CD3 MK2
Lector 7T MK3
Cary 306
Maranzt SA11 S2
Esoteric SA60 or X-03
theo's avatar
theo
2,690 posts
 
I can tell you that the MP upgrade is a marked inprovement of the standard C5xe. I looked at Meridian when buying nthe Ayre and I can't remember the model, well I guess the rest is obvious.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
The next product I am going to take on as a dealer is the Exposure Classic CD player. Priced around $2300 last time I looked but may be less now. Has gotten very good reviews and is mentioned in the Stereophile show report recently on line. I only sell things I think are both good and good value and I don't sell new products on line so not a sales talk.
mmike84
309 posts
 
The Ayre c5xe w/o the upgrade is the best CDP I've ever found under $10K and I've tried many. It is much better than any Meridian I've ever heard as well as a lot of others. The upgrade is cheap and well worth it. However C-5xe's go for $4k+ used is it's not exactly in your range but is as good as it gets IMHO.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Everything I've heard and read tells me that the Ayre, Esoteric, ARC, and Marantz are all truly excellent units.

But is there a reason the Bryston BCD-1 isn't on anyone's lists? In my experience, it's one of the most accurate and neutral players around, and--as a real bonus--with one of the best bass extensions out there. Is it because some of the other players mentioned incline, just slightly, to the "forgiving" side of neutral?
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