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What CD Player would you like to see tested?

Looking forward to your impressions and thoughts. Mine arrives on Saturday. Although my intentions are to use it as a transport via coax, I'd still like to hear the R2R DAC in it. I'm familiar with R2R sound(RPi HaT), but not on a commercial product. So, I'm excited to hear the FiiO version. It'll primarily be driving a S.M.S.L DO300EX DAC using Hifiman's Edition XS (EQ'd) headphones. A wonderful combination BTW.
 
I would like the Tonewinner TY-1cd to be tested. It’s a brand that hasn’t had any device measured on ASR yet. This player can read HDCDs (which has become rare), and the Chinese manufacturer seems to have designed the device by separating the internal functional blocks, which is reminiscent of what Accuphase does. Externally, the product looks well built, but are the actual performance levels up to what we should expect (at least complete transparency for 16-bit audio)?
 
I'd like to see the Sony BDP-S1700 tested, as a CD-transport (no analogue out). It's the only cheap Blu-ray player by Sony still sold in the market.
I just bought a s1700k to feed my topping e50 via coaxial, I hope it will work fine.
The other contender was the smsl pl150 but costs more than double and I don’t think is that much better compared to the little Sony bluray player.
If in the future I’ll decide to buy something better I’ll go for something with better mechanics.
 
I still hope that you test some Technics CD Player (or visit me in Vienna)
 
Sorry for my long silence, the beginning of 2026 kept me really busy and away from ASR.

I reviewed the Fiio DM15 and I don’t know if mine is an exception but the measured performances are simply the worst I’ve seen, by far, from a CD Player.
 
Sorry for my long silence, the beginning of 2026 kept me really busy and away from ASR.

I reviewed the Fiio DM15 and I don’t know if mine is an exception but the measured performances are simply the worst I’ve seen, by far, from a CD Player.
To answer the question of the thread :
Sony cdp-r3 for me
 
Hi! I would like to see tested as transports:

Cambridge CXC Transport - another vote for this one
CD Pro2 - Top Loader - used in Audio Research starting with CD3 and newer, and Juke Boxes!
CD Pro2 "Replica Drive" - also known as CD PRO V (Volpe) - I am not sure if there are any out there in OEM or other uses?
Stream Unlimited CD PRO8 - in Bryston BCD3 (tray) and Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T (top loader)

Finally the cheapest and most interesting to me, is:
"IDE CD ROM CD PLAYER" - available on online auction sites as a kit or assembled device with a small screen and remote control, that connects to an IDE CD-ROM drive for use as a CD Player! These CDROM drives usually have an "Analog Audio" output directly, which I am guessing is line level? Also there is "Digital Audio" which as I understand the SPDIF out from these is TTL, so in order to send to an external DAC it will need something like (also on auction sites) "SPDIF/TTL Input To SPDIF Fiber Coaxial AES Balance Digital Signal Output Board" or even "High-Precision Clock Board V6 and SPDIF Output Board for CD CD-ROM Turntable"

This reminds me of my other thread "https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...cd-transport-and-cd-player-performance.31737/" where I have some additional comments/questions for you @NTTY Thank you!
 
Naim CD555, just do it !


Screenshot 2026-04-12 at 10-25-32 Naim CD555_555PS review What Hi-Fi.png
 
Now this is a CDP that I would love to see / hear in a blind ABX test, against two of the best performing DACs from ASR here, could even chuck in a bad performing DAC under £100. To a group of people who have no idea what they are listening to, and each make a comment and rating anonymously, and revealed at the end, and people who don't have any experience with the DACs / players on test either! I love to see that test. 18 grand for a CDP, its just nuts!
 
Naim Audio didn’t used to be as price-fetishist as it is now, PRAT BS notwithstanding. I have their CD5 from about 2002, and I doubt it sounds any different than any other competent CD player in a state of good repair.

But keeping it in a state of good repair is part of the challenge with CD players. The Naim CD5, with its rotating manual tray and magnetic puck clamp, has no belts and no plastic drawer machinery. All other CD players that can claim that are top-loaders, which is for me extremely inconvenient.

The minimalist controls are fine for playing whole albums, which is my standard use case, and any Philips RC-5 remote will operate it.

On the used market, I paid 1/20th the price of their latest model bought new (assuming the price posted above), which is still expensive for a used CD player. I will not, of course, buy the unnecessary external “upgrade” power supply :)

Yes, it was on the Stereophile Class A recommended list that year and whatever, but that manual tray machinery is the reason I bought it. I’ve spent a lot of time gluing plastic and replacing gummy belts over the years. (I own half a dozen CD players.)

I did manage to break one of these by being careless with a home-made external power supply jumper. But that was my fault—and I think it’s a robust, low-maintenance design absent such screw-ups. It would be even better if Naim would provide a service manual. If it did, I’d have two of them.

Rick “not everything about Naim has always been silly” Denney
 
Naim Audio didn’t used to be as price-fetishist as it is now, PRAT BS notwithstanding. I have their CD5 from about 2002, and I doubt it sounds any different than any other competent CD player in a state of good repair.

But keeping it in a state of good repair is part of the challenge with CD players. The Naim CD5, with its rotating manual tray and magnetic puck clamp, has no belts and no plastic drawer machinery. All other CD players that can claim that are top-loaders, which is for me extremely inconvenient.

The minimalist controls are fine for playing whole albums, which is my standard use case, and any Philips RC-5 remote will operate it.

On the used market, I paid 1/20th the price of their latest model bought new (assuming the price posted above), which is still expensive for a used CD player. I will not, of course, buy the unnecessary external “upgrade” power supply :)

Yes, it was on the Stereophile Class A recommended list that year and whatever, but that manual tray machinery is the reason I bought it. I’ve spent a lot of time gluing plastic and replacing gummy belts over the years. (I own half a dozen CD players.)

I did manage to break one of these by being careless with a home-made external power supply jumper. But that was my fault—and I think it’s a robust, low-maintenance design absent such screw-ups. It would be even better if Naim would provide a service manual. If it did, I’d have two of them.

Rick “not everything about Naim has always been silly” Denney
I like Naim, and I like the way they sound subjectively. I get the minimalist take as well on a CDP, perfectly good for playing entire albums as it should be. But we’ll have to agree to disagree, pricing ‘has always been silly’, even the ‘cheaper’ stuff. But Naim have big boots to polish.
 
@NTTY

I would liove to see you testing the vintage Linn Karik CD Player/Transport / Linn Numerik DAC combo.
Happy to send you mine (one of the last being built in 1998). Postage of the 2 boxes from Germany to Switzerland should not cost a fortune.
Pls let me know in case of interest
 
@NTTY

I would liove to see you testing the vintage Linn Karik CD Player/Transport / Linn Numerik DAC combo.
Happy to send you mine (one of the last being built in 1998). Postage of the 2 boxes from Germany to Switzerland should not cost a fortune.
Pls let me know in case of interest
Just a quick heads-up: firstly, shipping is expensive—approximately double the cost within the EU; secondly, there is an additional customs processing fee; and thirdly, an 8.1% tax applies to both the value of the goods and the shipping costs.

You should speak with your local customs office to find out what options are available to you as a private individual for importing the devices into Switzerland—and subsequently re-exporting them within a specific timeframe—without incurring customs duties or taxes.
There are, for instance, specific regulations for repairs; however, these may not necessarily apply in this case, and you would likely need access to the complete customs declaration.
 
Just a quick heads-up: firstly, shipping is expensive—approximately double the cost within the EU; secondly, there is an additional customs processing fee; and thirdly, an 8.1% tax applies to both the value of the goods and the shipping costs.

You should speak with your local customs office to find out what options are available to you as a private individual for importing the devices into Switzerland—and subsequently re-exporting them within a specific timeframe—without incurring customs duties or taxes.
There are, for instance, specific regulations for repairs; however, these may not necessarily apply in this case, and you would likely need access to the complete customs declaration.
Thanks for the heads-up. I am well aware of the problems sending hifi equipment between UK and Germany but even there I sending HiFi-parts for repair is free of any custums duties and/or VAT. Assume that this would work here as well as the equipement will be returned to Germany.
However, more important is that @NTTY is interested in testing the Karik and Numerik.
 
Thanks for the heads-up. I am well aware of the problems sending hifi equipment between UK and Germany but even there I sending HiFi-parts for repair is free of any custums duties and/or VAT. Assume that this would work here as well as the equipement will be returned to Germany.
However, more important is that @NTTY is interested in testing the Karik and Numerik.
You should take into account that Switzerland is no part of Germany (neither EU) ... just saying :cool:
 
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