Sub-$400 CD Player

[vapman]

  I'm sorry if I sound like I am lobbying for the Emotiva.  I am not.  In fact, I no longer use any Emotiva gear on a daily basis.  , BUT....
 
I believe in making decisions based on all the facts..
 
I do believe that the current generation Emotiva CD player will play mini CDs.  It is a tray loading player like the Marantz/NAD.  The first two versions (ERC-1, ERC-2) were slot loading using a CD only mechanism by Toshiba I believe (could be wrong).  With the ERC-3 they switched to a DVD mechanism (the player only plays CDs still) which is a standard slide out tray, that should be able to play your mini-CDs (but I would double check that).
 
Good Luck...
 
Personally I am considering the Emotiva, Marantz, NAD because I will feed an external DAC and only need a transport.  I may save up for a Rega Apollo-R because I Love their gear and then I would feel comfortable using it without the DAC.  Since I like the Rega analog sound.  

I did not feel you were lobbying for anyone. I actually thought your posts were very objective and helpful in me making a decision on a new unit.
I forgot that buying a transport sans DAC is an option. Now this is what  I am considering, as I have plenty of AD/DA's I like.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I forgot that buying a transport sans DAC is an option. Now this is what  I am considering, as I have plenty of AD/DA's I like.

 

 

[vapman]

   

 
$409-450 shipped from eBay.... if reviews look good this looks PERFECT!!!
Just figured there's not much sense buying something with a DAC in it when I have so many standalone AD/DA's...
 
Now, forgive my stupidity, but why is this better than any old CD player with a digital out? I don't doubt that it is, and you better believe I want one, but not sure what makes the $.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
Now, forgive my stupidity, but why is this better than any old CD player with a digital out? I don't doubt that it is, and you better believe I want one, but not sure what makes the $.

 
It's not really better, only that if you buy it new over an old unit then the transport has less wear on it. Also, it's compact. They put it in the same chassis as their amps and DAC so you can put them side by side and not only do they match, but the overall width is only slightly wider than most standard-size integrated amps (and a lot lower if you count the standard-size CDP stacked on it).