[Vertigo-1]

Was just wondering what are some good CDPs between $1000-1300? Just need some names, can be new or used...if you have any impressions, by all means leave em behind, but otherwise, just need some names. And I'll do the research.

 

[ai0tron]

wadia, rega, CAL audio, Marantz.

 

[Vertigo-1]

Yes, I knew that much...what I need are *model* numbers in that price range...

 

[wab]

Arcam FMJ CD23
Marantz CD17KI
Sony CDP-XA555ES

 

[DRCope]

Vertigo,

CAL Delt transport, Sigma DAC used. My rig before next reco.

Better still: Pioneer Elite PD-65 (used) as trans, Audio Note Kit DAC 1.1. or 1.2
(new kit or assembled, or used assembled.)
Staggerlingly natural, musical sound. My current rig.

 

[Flumpus]

Used Cary 303

 

[dhwilkin]

Rega Jupiter
Sony SCD-777ES

But wait, could this mean Vertigo MIGHT actually be upgrading his source to be worthy of all his other equipment?!?

 

[DRCope]

Thanks for the memory jog!

I had a 303 between the CAL and the Pioneer/Audio Note combo, and while it sounded great and the build quality was staggering, I find the Pio/Note combo more musically satisfying. Is it the tube? The non-oversampling conversion? The stable platter? Who knows?

Besides, I like to mod/tweak, and I wasn't going to mess with the Cary!

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

Adcom GCD-750 $1250.00
AMC CD6B-540as $900.00
Arcam Alpha 9 $1599.00
Arcam Alpha 8SE $999.00
Audio Analogue Paganini $1195.00
Audiomeca Obsession $1595.00
California Audio Labs CL-15 $1695.00
California Audio Labs CL-10 $1495.00
Classe CDP.3 $1395.00
Creek CD43/2 $995.00
Denon DCD-1650AR $999.00
Granite Audio 650 $1500.00
Linn Genki $1700.00
Musical Fidelity A3 $995.00
Myryad Systems MC-100 $1295.00
NAD S500 $1499.00
Pioneer Elite PD-65 $800.00
Rega Jupiter $1790.00
Rotel RCD-991 $1300.00
YBA CD Integre $1795.00
YBA CD Special $1095.00
These are all list prices. If you audition any of these, and find one that is overly dynamic without digital harshness please let me know. Good luck!

 

[jaghouse]

nOrh CD-1
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/norhcd1_e.html
http://www.harmonicdiscord.com/forum...472&forum=3&14
http://www.norh.com/products/cd1/index.html

 

[KR...]

Many of the brands name here cost way more than want he asked for.

Look at CRESCENDOPOWER'S list for some nice entry level Hi-Fi audiophile players.

 

[aeberbach]

If you don't care about the way it looks, the Arcam Alpha 9 is the same CD player as the FMJ CD23 at its heart, I think the power supply is one upgrade but I do not know of many other differences. I opened up the CD23 and the DAC module has Alpha 9 written all over it (includes AD825 opamps I was pleased to see). It's a very fine CD player but does look a little TEAC in the Alpha 9 shell.

 

[markl]

Sony SCD-555ES without mods about a grand from Oade Bros ($1600 at Good Guys). Multi-channel SACD player with build quality equivalent to SCD-333ES, except it has the newer multi-channel dacs that some say are beter.

Sony SCD-222ES, probably $600-$800. Brand new multi-channel SACD without the build quality of the 555, and no discrete power supplies. Add in modwright mods at $350. I think this is a much better deal than the 555.

Come to the dark side of SACD. At this point, why invest in a CDP at that price that can't play SACD?

markl

 

[DanG]

Especially with your musical tastes, Vert, I think a redbook-only player is the way to go. New SACD players have great scarlet-book playback, but red-book playback is not up to par with the best in the $1k-1.5k redbook-only players. I've heard the Cary (I'm not sure if it was the 303 or 306) and it was an amazing player, but it's out of your price range (you're lucky if you can find it used for under $2000). If what Sam Tellig says is true, the Rega Jupiter should be a good player, but aside from that, maybe you should look into one of the older Meridians? I'm thinking 508.20 (.24 if you find a good deal), or something along those lines. I should think they'd beat an SACD player's redbook playback.

 

[Flumpus]

Hey Dan, I think I saw a Cary on audiogon a while back that was goin' for 1200. They had some older Cary models, but I'm pretty sure this was the 303.