Buying a new CD player

[funkera91]

Hello dear colleagues and friends!

It is time to change my old DVD player with a CD player, on which I am going to listen to music CD's Analog - RCA outputs!

The problem is that there are so many CD players nowaday, but I am really looking for the best ones which suites for mu budget.

So I will make price budget in 4 types:
Best player up to:
1. 500 USD
2. 1000 USD
3. 1500USD
4. 1500++++ USD

Meanwhile at this very moment I have my attention on theese models:

1.Onkyo C-733
2. Denon DCD 1700NE
3. Marantz CD50/60
4. Rotel 1572MkII
5. Audiolab 9000cdt
Any help is really really appreciated!

 

[Scytales]

I don't understand the way you put forward your question ?

What is your budget anyway ? US$ 500 or up to four or five times more ?

To my mind, the current Marantz CD-50n is the best deal of all the players you mentioned, because it gets the best set of features : CD player, fixed and variable output (can be used as a preamplifier), digital inputs including USB, a USB port, network functionalities, BlueTooth /Wifi, HDMI, ... But it is the costlier, as I understand. There's no free lunch.

 

[2tec]

buying used can extend your budget

perhaps consider buying a ripper and putting your CDs on a local music server

 

[voodooless]

I'm not sure if price is the best indicator of quality, in audio, it usually isn't that obvious. It's best to fix your maximum budget first, and see what fits.

Maybe @restorer-john can be of assistance on the quality of the especially the mechanism of these players. He must have repaired quite a few players and knows a thing or two about which ones are reliable. As for analog output, I'm sure most players will clear the 16-bit threshold just fine. Here for instance is a review of the C-733:

Onkyo C-733 Review (CD Player)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Onkyo C-733 CD stereo player and transport. This is my first for me on your site, so I'm bit stressed :) and please accept my apologies in advance for any mistakes. And of course, as I'm eager to learn and improve, so feel free to ask and/or...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Scytales]

The Onkyo C-733 is a 20 years old out of production CD player, whereas the other funkera91's candidates are current products on the market.

I don't get the logic of comparing old budget CD players to current CD players with more up to date features for the current digital world.

Funkera91, what's your current DVD player and what is wrong with it as a CD player ?

Edit :

By the way, I just saw that the Audiolab 9000 CDT has no analogue output, only digital ones : it's only a CD transport, not a full fledged CD player.

 

[Joe Smith]

If I were starting over with things, I would get a CD transport and output to the DAC of choice.
You seem to be kind of "backing into a budget" which is often a slippery slope. Higher cost will get you a nicer appearance and more features, for the most part.
I think the all in one units from Yamaha or Onkyo, for new full players, are good choices for a decent price.
I'm still waiting for a wonderful transport option, but the offerings from Audiolab and Cambridge Audio are pretty good.
Happy searching...

 

[funkera91]

I don't understand the way you put forward your question ?

What is your budget anyway ? US$ 500 or up to four or five times more ?

To my mind, the current Marantz CD-50n is the best deal of all the players you mentioned, because it gets the best set of features : CD player, fixed and variable output (can be used as a preamplifier), digital inputs including USB, a USB port, network functionalities, BlueTooth /Wifi, HDMI, ... But it is the costlier, as I understand. There's no free lunch.

Sorry, my english is not very good!
My budget is not specified at the moment, but may be maximum 1000-1200 USD , but also was thinking to buy a CD player for my father, as he also enjoy listening to music, at the price of maximum 500 USD
Thanks for reply!

 

[Scytales]

For your father, you should still be able to find a new Denon DCD-900NE for about US$ 500.

This player is as good as it gets when reading CDs (FFT of a 1 kHz@0 dBFS tone taken at analogue output at 2.2 V RMS):

Moreover, it has an USB port to read files on key (MP3, PCM up to 24bits/192ksps in FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC and DSD up to 128FS), which is convenient.

 

[EJ3]

I don't get the logic of comparing old budget CD players to current CD players with more up to date features for the current digital world.

Because many current CD Players do not even meet the original CD Redbook standard of 16 bit playback, that is why:
Please see this review on this site of a new 'high end' CD Player:

Marantz CD6007 Review (CD Player)​

• Thread starterNTTY
• Start dateSaturday at 1:10 PM

 

[Scytales]

Because many current CD Players do not even meet the original CD Redbook standard of 16 bit playback, that is why:
Please see this review on this site of a new 'high end' CD Player:

Marantz CD6007 Review (CD Player)​

• Thread starterNTTY
• Start dateSaturday at 1:10 PM

I am aware of that and of that particular review. But I am also aware that many old CD players did not achieve full 16 bits linearity at playback either. Harmonic distortion alone have prevented dozens of old CD players to reach that level of performance. Nevertheless, the fact that CD players capable of true 16 bits performance were rare in the past didn't bother the enjoyment of millions of people who had used those. The same will be true with more recent ones. And old is old : wear and tear of the traverse mechanism is to be taken into account when buying on the used market. As well as the fact that old CD players obviously lack features that more up to date players have (digital inputs, network function, ...), if that's important for someone or to make a future-proof purchase.

 

[Brian Hall]

Hello dear colleagues and friends!

It is time to change my old DVD player with a CD player, on which I am going to listen to music CD's Analog - RCA outputs!

The problem is that there are so many CD players nowaday, but I am really looking for the best ones which suites for mu budget.

So I will make price budget in 4 types:
Best player up to:
1. 500 USD
2. 1000 USD
3. 1500USD
4. 1500++++ USD

Meanwhile at this very moment I have my attention on theese models:

1.Onkyo C-733
2. Denon DCD 1700NE
3. Marantz CD50/60
4. Rotel 1572MkII
5. Audiolab 9000cdt
Any help is really really appreciated!

You have listed both CD players and CD transports. CD players include an internal dac and have RCA outputs. CD transports do not include a dac and only have digital outputs.

If you already have a good external dac, almost any CD player, blu-ray player or CD transport will work for you.

I think most transports are overpriced and won't give you any better sound than a used blu-ray player since both depend on an external dac.

What problem are you having with your current DVD player? If it doesn't have mechanical issues and has a coax or optical output you can get a streamer with a great dac for less than $500.

 

[Holmz]

Hello dear colleagues and friends!

It is time to change my old DVD player with a CD player, on which I am going to listen to music CD's Analog - RCA outputs!

The problem is that there are so many CD players nowaday, but I am really looking for the best ones which suites for mu budget.

So I will make price budget in 4 types:
Best player up to:
1. 500 USD
2. 1000 USD
3. 1500USD
4. 1500++++ USD

Meanwhile at this very moment I have my attention on theese models:

1.Onkyo C-733
2. Denon DCD 1700NE
3. Marantz CD50/60
4. Rotel 1572MkII
5. Audiolab 9000cdt
Any help is really really appreciated!

Why?
What is wrong with the old DVD player?
What can be improved in your opinion?
Does your DVD player output channels onto RCAs? Or is there some DAC that sits behind it?

 

[EJ3]

Why?
What is wrong with the old DVD player?
What can be improved in your opinion?
Does your DVD player output channels onto RCAs? Or is there some DAC that sits behind it?

There are people who repair old CD Players, installing new belts, replacing lasers and other things.
Now, it could be that they have one that parts aren't available for, it's uneconomical to repair or they just want a new one.

 

[amper42]

If you really need a CD Player Get yourself a Denon for $400.

DENON DCD-900NE CD Player with Advanced AL32 Processing Plus

Denon Factory Refurbished

www.accessories4less.com

You won't be able to hear any difference between it and any of the other CD players for thousands more.

OR
If you use a computer rip your CDs and keep them new in a case should you ever need another copy. Once you have ripped your favorite music in FLAC or AIFF and have them available to play on demand, instantly with Audirvana software you will rarely use that CD player - if ever. I have two Denon CD players that just sit there while my ripped music get lots of playtime. It's so easy to change tracks and albums without ever getting up or opening a CD drawer.

I also use Qobuz to make playlists of all your favorite tracks, just the way I want them. It's wonderful. You can't get this type of custom playback with a CD player. Once you try it you'll wonder why you didn't do this earlier. CD players have been relegated to the Stone Age. They offer less flexibility, more opportunity to damage disks and wear out CD door opening mechanisms. Friends don't recommend CD players to friends. Just like I don't cut grass with a push mower either.

 

[EJ3]

I am aware of that and of that particular review. But I am also aware that many old CD players did not achieve full 16 bits linearity at playback either. Harmonic distortion alone have prevented dozens of old CD players to reach that level of performance. Nevertheless, the fact that CD players capable of true 16 bits performance were rare in the past didn't bother the enjoyment of millions of people who had used those. The same will be true with more recent ones. And old is old : wear and tear of the traverse mechanism is to be taken into account when buying on the used market. As well as the fact that old CD players obviously lack features that more up to date players have (digital inputs, network function, ...), if that's important for someone or to make a future-proof purchase.

And many were 16 bit & great. Personally I do not stream. But I like the digital that a true 16 bit D player has.
I have 2 older ones (that are, in fact 16 bit). And, IF I found a new one that was as good and had the features I want, I would buy it. But, for me, the same is also true about buying another older one.

 

[Brian Hall]

Hello dear colleagues and friends!

It is time to change my old DVD player with a CD player, on which I am going to listen to music CD's Analog - RCA outputs!

The problem is that there are so many CD players nowaday, but I am really looking for the best ones which suites for mu budget.

So I will make price budget in 4 types:
Best player up to:
1. 500 USD
2. 1000 USD
3. 1500USD
4. 1500++++ USD

Meanwhile at this very moment I have my attention on theese models:

1.Onkyo C-733
2. Denon DCD 1700NE
3. Marantz CD50/60
4. Rotel 1572MkII
5. Audiolab 9000cdt
Any help is really really appreciated!

This is the CD player I use in my office:

 

[EJ3]

If you really need a CD Player Get yourself a Denon for $400.

DENON DCD-900NE CD Player with Advanced AL32 Processing Plus

Denon Factory Refurbished

www.accessories4less.com

You won't be able to hear any difference between it and any of the other CD players for thousands more.

OR
If you use a computer rip your CDs and keep them new in a case should you ever need another copy. Once you have ripped your favorite music in FLAC or AIFF and have them available to play on demand, instantly with Audirvana software you will rarely use that CD player - if ever. I have two Denon CD players that just sit there while my ripped music get lots of playtime. It's so easy to change tracks and albums without ever getting up or opening a CD drawer.

I also use Qobuz to make playlists of all your favorite tracks, just the way I want them. It's wonderful. You can't get this type of custom playback with a CD player. Once you try it you'll wonder why you didn't do this earlier. CD players have been relegated to the Stone Age. They offer less flexibility, more opportunity to damage disks and wear out CD door opening mechanisms. Friends don't recommend CD players to friends. Just like I don't cut grass with a push mower either.

But I still make MIX CD's for my friends with my CD recorder and not everyone lives where you have a wifi or even a cell phone signal (I am frequently in places like that [including at my favorite home, on the banks of the Edisto River]), all it takes is getting about 40 miles away from the city.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Internal view of a Marantz CD60 player. Does not look like a robust transport mechanism in it. Still might be fine, but for $1k I would have expected more.

 

[EJ3]

Internal view of a Marantz CD60 player. Does not look like a robust transport mechanism in it. Still might be fine, but for $1k I would have expected more.
View attachment 387668

Another reason to refurbish an older one with a more durable loading mechanism!

 

[Galliardist]

What components are you currently using?
Why do you feel the need to change?
Why discs? (My partner has problems with touch screen interfaces and stuff, which is why I have them)

Consider things like the user interface (remote, buttons on the device, information on the screen) and the other facilities you need, now or maybe in the future. Those things do vary between devices even when the sound doesn't.