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5+ years old $5k player vs. current $2k player

Hi,
Been thinking the above question: which one would be a better choice?

Price for these older players (e.g. Esoteric, Wadia, etc.) ends up being in similar price than recent vintages like Ayon, PS Audio, etc. And perhaps even the Oppo as a transport?

Did CD technology really improve significantly in the last few years such that these "cheaper" but newer players will out perform the older but top-line players?

Especially player like the PS Audio PWT, the concept is certainly new (for CD transport) & the theory does make sense...
hobieboyca
roscoeiii's avatar
roscoeiii
1,155 posts
 
I'd go current or 1-2 yrs old.

You might also want to consider going to computer audio with something like a Mac Mini as a transport to a newish DAC...
rdavwhitaker
173 posts
 
Current $2k player will come with a warranty, and 99.9% of all listeners won't be able to hear a difference between the "expensive and new" player and the "absurdly expensive and used" player.

The other .1% are reviewers, delusional, or more likely both. ;)
rrog
1,958 posts
 
I would and did go with an older more expensive CD player. After much research I decided to go with an Audio Research CD3 MKII and I am very pleased with the sound and build quality.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Regarding PS Audio Perfect Wave, I have no experience with the DAC. The PWT I own and know well. There are several past threads where PWT users compared them to their older expensive/highly rated transports, most found the PWT a definite step above once broken-in.

The PWT has been sincerely wonderful in my experience.
Best Regards,
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