marantz cdr500 recorder/playback quality

Thanks for your input. I didn't think the playback would be great. I was just trying to get an idea if it was decent. I just sold my higher end player (Arcam 92) and I've wanted to get a recorder so I thought about getting the CDR500 and using it as my playback until I decide which way to go on the high end front.

The straight CD playback quality of this machine is unexceptional, and doesn't qualify as high-end, IMHO. See my in-depth review titled "CD Burners: Marantz vs. HHB" in the archives. Unfortunately, the search engine won't recover this thread directly from contained keywords for some reason. You must search on "Zaikesman", then find the thread title in the returns and click on it there. I should note that although I own and like the HHB machine used as a burner, on Jimmymac's question I would give the same opinion about it as the Marantz - and ditto when used as a transport for an outboard DAC. You can't have it all!

I've just had a CDR500 for about a week now, and I agree with the above posts in that it makes excellent CD copies-- that's what I got it for. But is only mediocre as a transport. I haven't actually tried it direct to pre-amp, but run coax out to my 360S DAC. I'll have to try it direct to pre-amp. Cheers. Craig