[Keremz]

Hi Guys,

here is the million dollar question...
Its time for me to get a new CD player. The one I am using now is Marantz CD 6002 and I am so grown out of it.
The budget is around $1000 but can go up a little more if there will be a big difference.

So far what I have in mind are as follows:

Marantz pearl lite
Oppo 95 (only the audio part is of interest to me, other parts are just a bonus)
Rega Apollo
Audiolab CD8200

I have a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum Integrated tube amp and I listen to Jazz. Speakers are Usher 8571 diamonds.

help me choose one from the above or I am open to all suggestions

Well, any ideas, any help?  ))

thanx

Kerem

[ZENTISH]

Hi Kerem, I just received my Music Direct catalog and they have a sale price of 30% off on the Rega Apollo. Just a heads up, Tish

[JLM]

Oppo 93, modded by the Upgrade Company, $1300.

http://www.upgradecompany.com/upgrade-company-shop-online/oppo?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.v1.tpl&product_id=41&category_id=7

Comes with 100% buy back guarantee with full manufacturer's warrantee plus their own 5 year warrantee.  Look around their site.  They only mod what needs to be done to optimize each particular model.  And this is the cheapest player they recommend.

This is my next player (as soon as one of my 3 tanks).

[Poultrygeist]

I recently bought a Marantz SA8004 which is amazing playing redbook but goes to another level with SACD. It's very high quality internal DAC, accessible though a rear mounted USB input, is better than my AudioGD DAC which I now plan to sell. It's headphone amp is very good as well.

The jazz SACD selection gets better every day.

[groovybassist]

Of the group you mentioned, I'd lean toward the Oppo 95 or new Audiolab.

Having said that, I'm moving to mostly streaming music and will be selling my mint Naim CD5X if that strikes your fancy.  Would be a bit over your budget, but not too much.  Good luck on the search.

-Mike

[T]

For pure cd performance close to your price range, consider a used rega saturn (11-1200 used).  I feel happier, though, with a rega dac (700 used to 1000 new) attached to my laptop.  Good luck.
T

[Stu Pitt]

The Naim CD5x will blow the doors off everything mentioned.  I don't know groovybassist, nor do I know the condition of his CDP.  If it fits your budget and you're comfortable with him/his CDP, the CD5x is bad-ass IMO.

I was going to suggest the Rega Apollo out of what you listed (which I owned) or the Rega DAC, which I currently own.  The Rega DAC is better than the Apollo in every way and was a no-brainer for then equal money.  I still think its worth the extra cash over the Apollo's current price, but that's just me.  Also, not sure if you want/considered a DAC. 

[Poultrygeist]

The TDA1541 DAC is no longer used in CD players but is still considered by many to be the best ever produced. It even has a cult like following. Below is a link regarding this DAC and it may be worthwhile to listen to one of these older CDP before making a decision. I have an old Rotel with the TDA1541 and it sounds better than many newer more expensive units. There are online comprehensive lists of CDP that have this DAC.

http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/TDA1541%20corner/TDA1541.html

[Delta Wave]

I have the NAD565BEE and we compared it directly to the Rega at the dealer on the same system and the NAD it blew it away. The Rega is also poorly made IMO... the CD door feels like ultra-cheap plastic.

I've heard good things about the Virtue Piano CDP as well as the Oppos.

[Rclark]

FYI the Virtue Piano is a tda1541 player as was recommended. Much less than $1000, I think around six. See the Virtue forum here if you're curious about it and send a pm to user: Virtue.

[ddafoe]

RE> The Rega is also poorly made IMO... the CD door feels like ultra-cheap plastic.

I owned an Apollo for about 3 years and was very happy with it sonically.  However, the CD door did develop a vibration that was audible (while the disc was spinning...).   The vibration would only happen with certain CDs.   This behavior did turn me off their top loading transport a bit though.

I see Rega has now introduced a Rega - Apollo R for ~$1100 that looks interesting.

Regards
Deene