CD Player Advice

This may be below your sights ... but you could try the Music Hall CD-25 ($500 range). If you listen to a lot of Grisman & Acoustic Disc music ... that is all HDCD encoded ... and the Music Hall is an HDCD unit. Old & In The Gray, (for example, Pet Sounds, is another) sounds absolutely superb. I have owned the MH for about a year now and it is a nice sounding, well put together machine. The marketing for the MH compares it to a $1000 machine. You could also try the Shanling CDT 100 (imported by Music Hall; same manufacturer as the Music Hall CD25)

http://www.shanling.com/CD-T100.htm

Regards, Rich

I second the Audio Aero Prima. I love mine. It cannot be touched for the price; and will hold its' own with players costing more than twice the price. This baby is absolutely amazing. The Prima has a couple of tubes that keep the digital a little toasty, if you will...you can email me for info about where to purchase the Prima. I got it for a great price through a very reliable source. peace, warren

I've done A/B test with Rega Planet 2000 vs Marantz CD 17 MKII, CD 67SE and Meridian 508.24. Didn't like the SONYs because of thinner sound.
All the players are better than Rega 2000 except CD 67SE is less detail but more musical.
All of them are not harsh at all.
508.24 is warmer (very tube-like, detailed and excellent bass extension)than CD17 MKII (musical, lively, and detailed) and CD67SE ( musical, less detail than CD17 MKII.)
All test were done with home made 12 AWG CVH DIY shield power cord.

If acoustic music is your thing you MUST definitely audition a belt driven CD transport before purchasing anything. I just got myself a used Parasound (built by CEC) belt driven transport and my acoustic music just comes out sooo musically involving it's not funny. I never thought CDs could sound like that. The unit's electronics are wanting in bass slam, impact and dynamics when compared to my McCormack SST-1 transport but Dan Wright http://www.modwright.com is going to take care of that soon. Dan Wright is a specialist on digital modifications, so you might want to check his website

A belt drive transport is an interesting choice, I know a couple of people who swear by them and the two I've heard (both made by CEC) were very musical. My own player falls at the top of your range: the Shanling CD-T100, but when you listen to it make sure the unit is well broken-in. This player sounds its best after at least 200 hours (and WE 396A tubes instead of the Chinese stock).

And I gree with Tonnesen. You have to let your ears choose. May I suggest an approach (and I apologize if you already use it)? When you listen, I feel it's important to relax and switch over to the left side of the brain. Let the analytical functions have a rest and let feeling take over while you listen. Try not to compare as you do this. I like to make a few brief notes so as not to forget what I hear, and I use these later to help me compare.