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Budget CD Player, primarily for Classical Music

post #1 of 7
12/13/10 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 

I've recently equipped myself with a pair of Sennheiser HD 650s and a Schiit Asgard amp with the intention of primarily listening to classical music and jazz. I have yet, however, to purchase a suitable source component--a CD player capable of generating signal worthy of the 650's. 


Searching around the internet yields a few possibilities: 

 

 

NAD - C-515BEE - Compact Disc Player

 

Cambridge - Topaz - CD10 

 

Cambridge - CA350C

Marantz - CD-5004

 

NAD - C-545BEE

 

Cambridge - 550C

 

The trouble is that I am unable to identify and particular traits or qualities that might distinguish one of these as worth buying. Any advice?

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post #2 of 7
12/13/10 at 4:45pm

check out the new Marantz universal player on Music direct website 499.00 and will play cd/sacd/dvda

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post #3 of 7
12/14/10 at 1:57pm
Greetings,

I myself have a pair of Senn. HD600s, with which I use a Marantz sa8260 SA-CD player. The sa8260 is not available anymore and is hard to find, however, like you, I myself listen to a lot classical music (about 95% of my collection is classical) and I couldn't be happier with the Marantz.

With that said, I think the sa5004 would be an excellent choice, though I have not heard one myself. The only caveat, if you will, is that there are a great many classical SACDs to be found, and you might consider increasing your budget to accommodate a capable player. Marantz's current hi-fi SACD player is the sa8004 which retails for $999.99 (though a quick Google search reveals it can be had for $850), sadly well above "budget." Anyways, as always and if possible, try to audition as many players as you can, especially if you have a chance to AB them.

Cheers,
Keith
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post #4 of 7
12/14/10 at 3:05pm

I recommend the Musical Fidelity A3 or A3.2 whichever you can find used. Even at its retail price of $999 it was a steal IMO. Can be had for around $500-$600 used. Exhibits the performance of cd players that cost thousands more IMO.


Edited by computerparts - 12/16/10 at 10:23pm
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post #5 of 7
12/16/10 at 5:49am

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/517789/2010-model-sacd-player-from-sony-bdp-s370-bargain-of-the-century-hi-fi-world-magazine

 

 

:)

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post #6 of 7
12/16/10 at 4:11pm

Each of the 'real world' audio giants - Marantz, CA, Nad, Rotel, Sony, Denon etc - has a sweet spot somewhere between their entry-level model and their premium (read 'expensive') flagships. The confusing thing, for mine, is that you will rarely find consensus between the magazines on *which* model in each range is that elusive 'sweet spot' - What Hi-Fi seem particularly adept at granting a model which has been favourably reviewed elsewhere a mediocre rating - I guess it comes down to the need to audition every bloody thing in the universe before being able to make a decision. For me, that meant finding out that I preferred a $599 Marantz stereo receiver (FM receiver+amp) to a $999 NAD amp which had been given rave reviews elsewhere. So much of it lies in the audition environment and the way they have matched kit to loosen the grip you have on your wallet.

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post #7 of 7
12/16/10 at 4:18pm

MARANTZ - BD 7004 BLU-RAY PLAYER -$299 Right Now At Music Direct

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