[tako_tsubo]

seems The Rega Apollo gets lot of love here, but what about slightly older cd players to consider in its price range. I want excellent detail and deep soundstage...warm but a slight touch of brightness?...I have considered the Cambridge audio azur 740C as a current price/sound/build competitor. Audiogon and ebay seems to pop frequently with older cd players and research gets long into the night...

 

[Herandu]

If you are that serious, look at the PD-91 and PD-93 from Pioneer. The Philips CD-960 and the Marantz CD-91 are also in that league.
No doubt many will recommend this and that, but I put my trust in manufacturers who not only design the PCB and the case, but also the chips and the laser pick up.

Mind you, I recently got from a good friend a combi unit that is DVD/card reader/ CD player. It has DVI, coax, optical, RCA, SCART. I have opened it, and it has upgrade potentials to turn it into a very good transporter.

By the way: I have been busy upgrading my TC-7510 MK-I. I have done all the mods, and added a few more. Pics soon!

 

[chesebert]

Apollo is hard to beat for <$1k player, old or new. you can 'upgrade' Apollo later on with a better DAC.

 

[tako_tsubo]

I have been waiting for an excellent condition Pio elite pd 93 or 95...the pio pd 91 was built around 1988 so may be on its last legs laser wise. The PD 65 is very sought after and was built until 2001.
I do plan to get a CI VDA2 for the SB3.(tho the stello DA100 keeps showing up in my head)..Herandu I know you are into the Beresford but gonna see if the DAC change will make the difference there...but the bedroom unit needs some help... I moved the sony 555ES into the main HT coupling it with the TC 7510 and sounds great. I just figure get a top notch CD player for the bedroom...one box it.
Chesbert...what DAC would improve on the Apollo? Its SQ is supposed to be up there...

 

[tbonner1]

Read the reviews here on the older Sony CDP's like the SACD 777ES and 7ES.

For less money I like the SACD 555ES and 333ES with mods.

 

[chesebert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tako_tsubo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have been waiting for an excellent condition Pio elite pd 93 or 95...the pio pd 91 was built around 1988 so may be on its last legs laser wise. The PD 65 is very sought after and was built until 2001. I do plan to get a CI VDA2 for the SB3.(tho the stello DA100 keeps showing up in my head)..Herandu I know you are into the Beresford but gonna see if the DAC change will make the difference there...but the bedroom unit needs some help... I moved the sony 555ES into the main HT coupling it with the TC 7510 and sounds great. I just figure get a top notch CD player for the bedroom...one box it. Chesbert...what DAC would improve on the Apollo? Its SQ is supposed to be up there...

improve Apollo? Lavry Gold comes to mine although I have never heard the DAC, I am sure its up there along side Reimyo, ML, Esoteric, Chord, dCS, EMM Labs, and etc.

 

[tourmaline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbonner1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Read the reviews here on the older Sony CDP's like the SACD 777ES and 7ES. For less money I like the SACD 555ES and 333ES with mods.

Tbonner1,
be aware that the sony 777es used a very specific laser/transport and it is sold out worldwide! You cannot get a replacement for that specific type of player; if the 555 es uses the same laser/transport combi it would be dead also.

Advice is, if you wanna buy a good used second hand cdplayer, make sure the parts are still available like laser and transport. in most cases it's the laser/transport that needs to be replaced!

I myself was very interested in a sony cdp 777es because it suppose to be very good but i found out everybody is looking for replacement lasers and sony quit production! Worldwide it's sold out. So, if you buy an expensive used player and it turnes out to be unrepairable..........

most of these players are that old that the most obvious part to be replaced would be the laser unit!

 

[tourmaline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesebert /img/forum/go_quote.gif improve Apollo? Lavry Gold comes to mine although I have never heard the DAC, I am sure its up there along side Reimyo, ML, Esoteric, Chord, dCS, EMM Labs, and etc.

what about the saturn?!

 

[tako_tsubo]

well...ebay had a Naim cd5i go for just shy of $1200...more than an Apollo but close in price...but what about it's sound?

 

[Fairbanks]

With the Apollo you have a very fine stand alone CD player.I was very impressed with the Apollo until and I upgraded to the Saturn.Whatever you do don't buy used as the warranty is non-transferable.

 

[robm321]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tourmaline /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tbonner1, be aware that the sony 777es used a very specific laser/transport and it is sold out worldwide! You cannot get a replacement for that specific type of player; if the 555 es uses the same laser/transport combi it would be dead also. Advice is, if you wanna buy a good used second hand cdplayer, make sure the parts are still available like laser and transport. in most cases it's the laser/transport that needs to be replaced! I myself was very interested in a sony cdp 777es because it suppose to be very good but i found out everybody is looking for replacement lasers and sony quit production! Worldwide it's sold out. So, if you buy an expensive used player and it turnes out to be unrepairable.......... most of these players are that old that the most obvious part to be replaced would be the laser unit!

This is the first I've heard of this. Can you provide a link to more info on this?

 

[tourmaline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robm321 /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is the first I've heard of this. Can you provide a link to more info on this?

I am talking about the cdplayer version. The sony cdp x777es uses the Sony laser KSS-281A laserunit/transport and is worldwide sold out some time ago. If you can find it( not likely) it will cost you severe, probably near 200 dollars per unit. I read somewhere that sony keeps stock for units in general only for 5 years. This particular sony cdplayer is way older then 5 years, even over 10 years old and the lasers/transports are just not around anymore.

I found out when i was about to buy one myself and wanted to make sure it could be repaired. It turned out that the lasers/transports are NOT for sale anymore.

Just do a search for: Sony laser KSS-281A and you'll see how many people are looking for one but can't get it anymore.

On the other hand, alot of other sony transports are still available and alot of other brands use also sony transports.

So, still alot of former high end players can be repaired and had for a very decent price and are still very worthwhile!

 

[tourmaline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairbanks /img/forum/go_quote.gif With the Apollo you have a very fine stand alone CD player.I was very impressed with the Apollo until and I upgraded to the Saturn.Whatever you do don't buy used as the warranty is non-transferable.

So what? Repairs for laser/transport rarely exceeds 150 euro's. Except some older and expensive sony laser/transports that can fetch even way above 150 euro's only for the transport/laser unit! Second hand you still can get really good cdplayers for a very decent price. Just make sure the laserunit is still for sale in case in need of repair. Most likely the laserunits are about to be changed after 10 years or so.

 

[robm321]

Thanks tourmaline

 

[Fairbanks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tourmaline /img/forum/go_quote.gif So what? Repairs for laser/transport rarely exceeds 150 euro's. Except some older and expensive sony laser/transports that can fetch even way above 150 euro's only for the transport/laser unit! Second hand you still can get really good cdplayers for a very decent price. Just make sure the laserunit is still for sale in case in need of repair. Most likely the laserunits are about to be changed after 10 years or so.

Sorry for the confusion.I was talking about the Apollo and Saturn.Their warranty on a used CD player is non-transferable.