I haven't had much experience with CD's lately, I find that sound from CD players is very similar unless you pay more than 1.5k and sometimes not even that way.
Also from my point of view (in my country) if a 800 USD CD player won't sound much much better than a 350 USD better I recommend to save the money and invest it on acoustical materials, cables, or somethingthat has a high impact on sound, even on more CD's.
I have played:
Myryad MCD-200
Rotel RCD-1072
harman/kardon hk 7600 II
SONY SCD-X670 (SACD/CD)
Panasonic F65 (DVD as CD with upsampling and DVD-A Stereo)
Denon DCM-370
Myryad had high output but the most was the most analytical, good soundstage and 3D but sound was cold or uninspiring. Maybe the best (overall) but it costs here around 1700 USD. (and the Denond later sounded very good)
Rotel was ok, I think it is designed from outside to inside (to look impressive to some guys) one think that I didn't like was that when I used with a Myryad integrated amp it sounded practically the same as a Philips DVD711 player. So it made me wonder and feel uncertain. Maybe it was just a matter of the amp input circuit. It was a friend's player so it was just a couple of hours session.
harman/kardon 7600II is a nice unit but from 14+ years ago, used by some as reference player (in it's time) it now lacks detail and precission, yet I think it sound a little bit veiled but pleasant not so digital. It remembers me a time when CD's used to sound different. (Was my fav until Denon arrived and was "tweaked")
SONY as CD sounds ok but a litle bit uncontrolled on high frequencies, whistle like, also bass is not as well constructed as in other units. I like it is a sinlge disc player and the display on/off function. I'LLINSTALL SOME CONES AND FIND OUT IF IT IMPROVES.
Panasonic F65 I liked it more than the SONY more accurate sound and better bass, but not so open, also with a strange name kind of upsampling that sometimes helps. Mechanism is really nice (5 disc). You need a TV to acces menus.
Denon DCM-370 is my favorite but just after 2 tweaks: AS cones and unplugging the headphone cable inside, it now sounds open a little bit dry but nice with good bass and the variable output helps me a lot with my RCless-Tempest. Before the cones and cable tweak it sounded very 2D, dry, limited. (Sometimes I wonder if the tweaks really made such a difference)
I am looking a higher grade player, but also I want great value, specially I am looking units with higher capacitance, maybe the Tjoeb or maybe one from AudioAgile. Also as options a Scott Nixon or another DAC.
All of the above are my personal ideas based on my subjective experience, tastes and hearing system.
Regards.
