CD player for low budget

[ubermang]

hi all.
i've been enjoying music via old zenith dvd player, gilmore lite with dps, and senn hd600.
i really think i need to upgrade the source. however, spending money on gilmore lite, i can only squeeze out $100-$150 out of my butt.

please be kind and recommend a cd player or a dvd player for my budget. one important thing is that it should be able to play cd-r's as a large part of my music is burnt on cd-r's from flac.

 

[Gaara]

Do you like the DVD player you have now, and does it have digital outs? If so you would probably be better served to get a $100-$150 DAC and keep the Zenith then going with a new one.

I bought a DIY Paradise Monica 2 a while back for under $150 and preferred it to the output of a $300 CDP and $900 dvd player.

 

[ubermang]

well, it has coaxial digital audio and optical digital audio outputs.
it makes lots of noise while playing, and i have a feeling that it's gonna die soon. thats why i think i need to get a new cd player.

 

[LarryK2]

Look for a good used Denon 1500 MK II - heavy, solid and a great DAC chip. Usually <$150. I like mine better than anything I've auditioned in the new 1K-2K USD range.

Cheers,
Larry

 

[omegaman]

Have you considered buying used, I got a $1000 Arcam CDP for about $120 just because it was a few years old.

Most decent makes are well looked after. Mine was mint and was even delivered in its original box with the instructions and everything.

Worth looking into !!!!!!

 

[derekbmn]

Look for an old Rotel RCD-855. There are usually at least 1 or 2 on Ebay at any given time.

 

[Kuba4]

And what about old Sony Esprit CDPs?

 

[Uncle Erik]

You should be able to find a new Sony SCD-CE595 for under $100. It's a SACD player, which is great if you love classical or jazz. I owned one for awhile, and used it with a Dynalo and HD-650s, and you do get a lot of extra detail from that setup. It'll play regular CDs, as well, but it's worth picking up if you'd like to get into SACD.

I'm not familiar with them, but a lot of people seem to like the Oppo players. The prices are in your budget, and I've read positive reviews even in the stereo magazines.

 

[Cankin]

Any cheap($3-400) CDPs with digital input??
The ones I know are CA 840c, 740c or Quad 99 CDP2 but they're too expensive and Harman/Kardon HD970 but it's not available in North America.

 

[socrates63]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not familiar with them, but a lot of people seem to like the Oppo players. The prices are in your budget, and I've read positive reviews even in the stereo magazines.

This was what I was going to suggest -- the Oppo players. I also don't have first hand experience, but if my budget was $100-$150, I'd definitely consider one.

A while back, I picked up a used Samsung HD941 off of ebay from a local seller for under a $100 to use as a transport. While I didn't try its analog output (I simply figured it wouldn't be as good as a VDA-2 and never tried it), I haven't been impressed by it as a transport. The sound is a little too hard and digital-ly for my ears.

 

[Lazarus Short]

As you are observing, players and transports wear out eventually. A DAC should last a long, long time. My strategy, especially after having an expensive Kinergetics CDP go teats-up on me, is to have a good DAC that suits me, and treat the transport as a disposable, like brake pads. It should save me gobs of money in the long run.

Laz

 

[Pangaea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif You should be able to find a new Sony SCD-CE595 for under $100. It's a SACD player, which is great if you love classical or jazz. I owned one for awhile, and used it with a Dynalo and HD-650s, and you do get a lot of extra detail from that setup. It'll play regular CDs, as well, but it's worth picking up if you'd like to get into SACD.

I got one after being recommended on this site and have had no issues with it. Sounds very good- I paired it with my Beresford DAC- so I can really only rate it as a transport. But it is very functional and reliable.