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What cd player should I buy?

I need the help of an audiophile!

My system includes:

BAT VK-60 amp
Audio Research LS 15 preamp
Vienna Acoustic Mozart speakers
CAL Audio DX-2 cd player hooked to MSB Link Dac III

The cd/dac combo is not to my liking. I want something "warmer" with more of an analog sound. My budget is $2,000.

What should I buy?
128x128ghellen
paul_frumkin
130 posts
 
It's not clear to me that you need a warmer sound; rather that you current combo has a hard, grainy edginess to it that you'd like to lose. If you're loking for a cd player that adds nothing and takes away nothing, then I think the built-like-a-tank Sony XA7ES is a great call. The guy who sold me mine then bought the Meridian 508.24, referenced above. A month later he called and asked if I'd swap the players with him! (I kept the Sony).
ttathompaolcom
41 posts
 
get the new bel canto 2.0 dac($1300)and nordost dig. cable(used$300-350).
badwisdom
145 posts
 
Audio analogue Maestro CD, Electrocompanient EMC1 seem to fit your set of requirements perfectly.

Cheers
Bad
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Ttathompaolcom Do you have that DAC? If so, what are your impressions? I have the 1.1 and the ART di/o, I'm not too sure about that one and whether I should upgrade it but love the Bel-Canto.
brunhilde
23 posts
 
The Sony SACD players (SCD777 and XA777) is certainly good value for money, but they may not give you the warmth you are looking for.

There has been some buzz on audioasylum about a tubed Shanling CD player which Music Hall will bring in (at $2000). Inmate DannyB bought one directly from China and was very impressed. It certainly looks fantastic, I have for obvious reasons not heard it.

http://www.shanling.com/html/CD-T100e.htm
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/38073.html
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