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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 12:05:22 GMT
Not checked my bank account since Nov 2018 but had a look the other day and seems like I've got a bit more cash than I thought. So I am going to splurge on a new cd player.
I know everyone likes streaming and that now but I'm not interested in all the faff. Looking for suggestions up to a grand. Might consider second-hand but really want something new as I'm sick of the stupid things dying on me. Don't want anything with valves in it otherwise anything considered. Doesn't have to use up all the budget. Would appreciate some suggestions so I can make a short list.
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 12:12:40 GMT
Not checked my bank account since Nov 2018 but had a look the other day and seems like I've got a bit more cash than I thought. So I am going to splurge on a new cd player. I know everyone likes streaming and that now but I'm not interested in all the faff. Looking for suggestions up to a grand. Might consider second-hand but really want something new as I'm sick of the stupid things dying on me. Don't want anything with valves in it otherwise anything considered. Doesn't have to use up all the budget. Would appreciate some suggestions so I can make a short list. The Cambridge CX range gets positive reviews all the time |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2020 12:27:44 GMT
Any of the Rega top-loaders are good Martin. They sound more analogue than most which is a bonus and the top-loading brings benefits for the transport side of things. Their customer service is first class. I had a slight issue with my Apollo-R when new and they repaired and turned it around within a week, no quibbles. I don't think you'll better them for the money.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2020 12:30:31 GMT
Technics SL-G700
SHANLING TEMPO eC1B
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 13:28:00 GMT
Cambridge CX is just a transport
Rega players I don't like - didn't like that one you had Paul, thought your Garrard 401 was less coloured. I'm after a studio sound not something that sounds like it's trying to be a turntable.
Technics SL-G700 looks good but it's two and half grand! I'm not paying that. Shanling Tempo - hmm - not that keen on how it looks but it will go on the shortlist. At least it's a sensible price.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2020 13:29:31 GMT
I didn’t realise it was that expensive.
Yamaha CD-S1000?
There are also offerings from NAD and Marantz
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 14:03:27 GMT
Can get a B stock Yamaha CDS1000 for £400, that looks like a good deal. That's going on the list.
Marantz is out, never been keen on their house sound. NAD I quite like but I don't think they are that reliable.
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Post by antonio on Apr 26, 2020 14:39:24 GMT
I'm sure the Yammy is a good deal. My only concern would be the slightly euphoric nature of the sound for you Macca. I have looked on eBay and a few dealer sites, cdp's are no longer easy to find now although did see an Exposure 2010 s2 at Fanthorpes for £989. My recommendation to anyone in your shoes would be to go down the transport/dac route, something like CXC and Topping D90.
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Post by antonio on Apr 26, 2020 15:10:05 GMT
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 15:24:42 GMT
I'm sure the Yammy is a good deal. My only concern would be the slightly euphoric nature of the sound for you Macca. I have looked on eBay and a few dealer sites, cdp's are no longer easy to find now although did see an Exposure 2010 s2 at Fanthorpes for £989. My recommendation to anyone in your shoes would be to go down the transport/dac route, something like CXC and Topping D90. Yes I am thinking of that now too. As you say there's not much in terms of CD players now is there? It's either budget stuff or thousands, very little in the middle. And I don't need SACD, USB, or any of that jazz. That Denon looks good, I've put it on the list. Also thinking about a Cambridge AXC35 which is quite a bit cheaper but still has the separate power supplies for digital and analogue stages. |
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 15:25:43 GMT
You've put me off the Yammy now saying it is euphonic.  But that is a lot of player for the money. Battleship build. 16 kilos! |
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Post by antonio on Apr 26, 2020 15:47:43 GMT
I have never heard that particular model, but have recently heard an older model and that is their sound signature. Nothing to dislike but again maybe lacking that vital energetic ingredient. One that I did see over budget was a Naim cdi  at £1200 |
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Post by nonuffin on Apr 26, 2020 15:53:45 GMT
My choice would be the Vincent CD-S4 although you did say no valves Martin. Comes with a 5 year warranty which you may appreciate. Sounds fabulous.
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Post by antonio on Apr 26, 2020 16:09:24 GMT
I'm sure the Yammy is a good deal. My only concern would be the slightly euphoric nature of the sound for you Macca. I have looked on eBay and a few dealer sites, cdp's are no longer easy to find now although did see an Exposure 2010 s2 at Fanthorpes for £989. My recommendation to anyone in your shoes would be to go down the transport/dac route, something like CXC and Topping D90. Yes I am thinking of that now too. As you say there's not much in terms of CD players now is there? It's either budget stuff or thousands, very little in the middle. And I don't need SACD, USB, or any of that jazz. That Denon looks good, I've put it on the list. Also thinking about a Cambridge AXC35 which is quite a bit cheaper but still has the separate power supplies for digital and analogue stages. You can also upgrade with a separate dac at a later stage with the Cambridge and still keep within your budget. |
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 16:16:25 GMT
Deffo no valves - not keen on the looks of it either. Not that that's a deal breaker. |
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Post by sq225917 on Apr 26, 2020 16:19:10 GMT
Arcam cd 192
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Post by firebottle on Apr 26, 2020 16:26:01 GMT
..would be to go down the transport/dac route, something like CXC and Topping D90. Plus one for this. The D90 is fabulous (from experience), plus it has different filter settings to tailor to your choice. |
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Post by antonio on Apr 26, 2020 16:29:49 GMT
Deffo no valves - not keen on the looks of it either. Not that that's a deal breaker. I'm not sure it does have valves, it's part of their solid line. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 16:29:56 GMT
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Post by hammer on Apr 26, 2020 16:37:32 GMT
I've got the Vincent cds7 it's really very good, but valves so no good for you😕
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 16:42:22 GMT
It does doesn't it? Would be hard to resist if it was already in the UK. About £700 plus the freight and duty. Plus Japan seems to be in meltdown at the moment. They're not set up for home-working apparently. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 16:43:50 GMT
It does doesn't it? Would be hard to resist if it was already in the UK. About £700 plus the freight and duty. Plus Japan seems to be in meltdown at the moment. They're not set up for home-working apparently. I'm afraid I'd take the punt.. Its bloody gorgeous. I may even buy it for me lol |
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 16:45:20 GMT
Deffo no valves - not keen on the looks of it either. Not that that's a deal breaker. I'm not sure it does have valves, it's part of their solid line. Yeah doesn't mention them in the blurb, which is weird if it does have them. Not sure I'd take a chance of something so boutique though. |
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 16:51:28 GMT
It does doesn't it? Would be hard to resist if it was already in the UK. About £700 plus the freight and duty. Plus Japan seems to be in meltdown at the moment. They're not set up for home-working apparently. I'm afraid I'd take the punt.. Its bloody gorgeous. I may even buy it for me lol Here it is on TVK - same player it's just the US/Europe designation www.thevintageknob.org/denon-DCD-3520.html some nudy shots. Not as pretty in black though. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2020 17:25:50 GMT
Cambridge CX is just a transport Rega players I don't like - didn't like that one you had Paul, thought your Garrard 401 was less coloured. I'm after a studio sound not something that sounds like it's trying to be a turntable. Technics SL-G700 looks good but it's two and half grand! I'm not paying that. Shanling Tempo - hmm - not that keen on how it looks but it will go on the shortlist. At least it's a sensible price. Fair comment I guess but give me a slightly coloured CDP over some of the anaemic sterile things any day. Personally I think the Garrard/MP-500 is a little more syrupy (in a musically engaging and enjoyable way) than the Rega CDP. We didn't listen to enough of a cross section of CDPs to really form a fair conclusion on your visit if I remember rightly. I had quite an expensive (I think £5K at the time) Jap CDP prior to that which came complete with amazing measurement data etc etc but sounded as sterile and as 2-D flat as anything. It lasted about 3 months before I moved it on. The Gyro blew it out of the water. Of other's I've heard, Jerry's Technics SLP1200 was good and I quite liked his MF A5 (I think it was) which was possibly the ONLY MF CDP I've ever liked too. Of those I've owned, I enjoyed the Consonance Droplet although that was a little on the warm side of things compared with the Rega. The Rega transport is fab...I use that into a stand alone DAC these days and have no urge to part with any more on the digital side. I prefer my vinyl, especially played with a ZYX sat in the sme arm. |
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 17:41:45 GMT
Cambridge CX is just a transport Rega players I don't like - didn't like that one you had Paul, thought your Garrard 401 was less coloured. I'm after a studio sound not something that sounds like it's trying to be a turntable. Technics SL-G700 looks good but it's two and half grand! I'm not paying that. Shanling Tempo - hmm - not that keen on how it looks but it will go on the shortlist. At least it's a sensible price. Fair comment I guess but give me a slightly coloured CDP over some of the anaemic sterile things any day. Personally I think the Garrard/MP-500 is a little more syrupy (in a musically engaging and enjoyable way) than the Rega CDP. We didn't listen to enough of a cross section of CDPs to really form a fair conclusion on your visit if I remember rightly. I had quite an expensive (I think £5K at the time) Jap CDP prior to that which came complete with amazing measurement data etc etc but sounded as sterile and as 2-D flat as anything. It lasted about 3 months before I moved it on. The Gyro blew it out of the water. Of other's I've heard, Jerry's Technics SLP1200 was good and I quite liked his MF A5 (I think it was) which was possibly the ONLY MF CDP I've ever liked too. Of those I've owned, I enjoyed the Consonance Droplet although that was a little on the warm side of things compared with the Rega. The Rega transport is fab...I use that into a stand alone DAC these days and have no urge to part with any more on the digital side. I prefer my vinyl, especially played with a ZYX sat in the sme arm. IIRC we played a selection of CDs that I brought with me, so I reckon I was able to form a solid opinion. I've heard the same thing with Rega cd players since too so I know it's not a one off. They just don't do what I want, but I can see why someone who wants his digital to sound like his vinyl would naturally gravitate to them. I mean that's their market essentially. I don't know anyone with a Rega cd who doesn't rate vinyl as his first choice for listening. I reckon I would almost certainly have preferred the 'sterile' Jap player! I'm on my third Technics SLP1200 but it's temperamental. You can pretty much play one whole album on it before it warms up enough to start mucking about. |
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Post by macca on Apr 26, 2020 17:48:57 GMT
I always think of Arcam sound as a bit warm and soft. Is it like that? |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 26, 2020 18:14:26 GMT
Without a doubt I'd go for a transport (possibly an Arcam DVD player, very very good as CD transports with the type of sound you want) plus a DAC, Topping D90 maybe, loads of DACs out there. That combo would, I think, give a nicely neutral (sterile) sound.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 26, 2020 18:34:25 GMT
Without a doubt I'd go for a transport (possibly an Arcam DVD player, very very good as CD transports with the type of sound you want) plus a DAC, Topping D90 maybe, loads of DACs out there. That combo would, I think, give a nicely neutral (sterile) sound. Yup, most sensible by far. CD transport into a Topping D90 DAC. Also allows you to maybe dabble in file based audio IF you ever feel the urge. Not that I think you will. |
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Post by macca on Apr 27, 2020 7:11:15 GMT
Been offered one of these Oppos download.oppodigital.com/BDT101CI/OPPO%20BDT-101CI%20for%20Integrator%20v1.0.pdf for a fair price so have gone for it. Not new but hardly had any use and they have a good rep for reliability. Should be a good candidate as a transport too and there's plenty left in the budget to get a fancy external DAC if I feel the need. Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions, much appreciated. |
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But that is a lot of player for the money. Battleship build. 16 kilos!
at £1200
