Cambridge Audio D500SE vs Arcam CD72

I have an older Cambridge Audio D500, and am very pleased with it. The sound is very clear, detailed and natural. I haven't heard the Arcam CD72, so can't comment on how the two units would compare, but Arcam CD players seem to be well reviewed by the audio press and commented on favorably by users on Audiogon and other sites. Using good interconnect cables and a replacement power cord with the D500 improves the sound. I am using MAS Grey interconnects with mine, which offer excellent sound at a reasonable price; see "Interconnects at modest cost" discussion on Audiogon's cable forum for more on these.

I have read in other posts when I was looking at the Cambridge that it is improved a lot by upgrading the power cord.

I would go with the Arcam CD72. Better build quality and
a more refined sound.
I was also looking in the same price range as the D500SE
and wound up buying the new Music Hall MMF-25 CD Player.
I thought the D500SE sounded fairly decent, but thought
the CD tray and mechanism left a lot to be desired. You
might want to give it a look!

I guess it really does come down to how much you want to spend. The Arcam is more refined and should be considering price. For under $500 brand new, the Cambridge is hard to beat. For used do not forsake the original D500. It has a slightly older delta-sigma 20bit DAC, but it is actually a higher spec DAC than the 24bit/192 DAC in the D500SE.

I also recommend the power cord upgrade for the Cambridge. The stock cord they give you is pretty cheap. It does not even fit well in the IEC socket. Even a $7 Black 14AWG computer type cord is a good upgrade. I highly recommend the Blue Circle BC61 or the Vansevers 202. The D500 should go well with your Cambridge Amp (which amp?).