Does it still pay to buy a $3k CD player

SACD1 or the cheaper version or SCD777ES will do for the $3k range and this will beat most of the CDP in that price range or much more. Most CD only transports in $5k-10k range do not even match up with the SCD players's transport if you opt go with an outboard DAC.

I will only respond from a non sacd owner, point of view. The early bird always pays for the early conversion. 2nd gen.players may be better and cheaper.By then there may be more titles.Hey if you got to be first on your block go for it.If you have a couple hundred cd's already the cd only sound can be bettered with a used cd player for less money,if you shop wisely.at audiogon

Your question, of course, can only be answered very subjectively. Anyone who will consider spending $3K on a CD player has a very personal set of audio desires. For me, spending $3K on a CD never much sense, and it makes almost none now. In the next year or so, we are going to see another generation of players hit the market with 96/24 capability, that may also include HDCD. The old 44.1K CD's will be around a long time, but they will be certainly be eclipsed in sound quality by newer recording technologies. Over the past 3 months, I was pondering the same question you posed, and I opted to buy a used Rega Planet CD player for about $575. I'm very pleased with its sound quality, and it will be a fully acceptable unit for the next year or so. You may want to consider the same approach.

If your income is $300000.00 go buy $4000.00 Electrocompaniet EMC 1 or $12000.00 Accuphase 75v.If,however,it is close to $50000.00 then I suggest you get CEC TL5100Z from Audio Advisor for $795.00 and keep it for another 3-4 years.

Hi Joe; It also depends greatly on how old you are and how many CDs you have..... think about it. Good luck. I'm an "old coot" and there's no doubt in my mind. Best of luck. Craig