Buying top brands's older CD players: Pros& Con

Thank you all for your responses; I am throughly forewarned and decided to wait until I can afford something much better than the Apollo; A player that is a relatively new model and will have parts for possible future repair. Jim

The problem with that plan Jim is that by the time you would require the repair the parts probably won't be availible anymore. Manufacturers usually design CDP's around current drives of the day, they buy some to use as spares for repairs, but almost every manufacturer eventually runs out of spares and a new drive design is needed. Unlike a computer, you can't just put any drive into a CDP. So a new model will have a new drive, but if the drive dies in 8-10 years, there probbably still won't be a drive sitting around for a drop in replacement.

Designed obsolescence, they do it because it works. See, you are now looking for a relatively new model. Hence manufacturers will continue to make parts become obsolete to encourage buying new(er). That is not just in audio, we are in general becoming a disposable society.

I use a Resolution Audio CD-50, it's more than ten years old but I haven't heard a cdp I like better and I have heard many. I purchased an extra laser to ensure the machine's longevity.

The cd-1 is no longer supported by ARC, just like the CD-2. The pickups are no longer available, so if it breaks (and break it will) you will end up with an expensive paperweight. If anything, look for ARC CD-3 or later - those are based on the cd-pro2 drive, which is still beeing made.

i owned an audio research cd-1. i wouldn't advise you to buy it.

there are many other players to consider.

i prefer my audionote cd-2. it has a tube output stage. it is about 20 years old.