[gnuyork]

Does anybody know if NAD cd players would sound good through Adcom gear? I have the GFA 5500. Looking for a reasonable CD player to match.

Thanks.

[gnuyork]

Anybody have an opinion on this? ^

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I can't help you with the NAD but if your system is bright consider a Marantz CD player,  with out knowing your budget here are some lower cost recommendations- take a look at the Marantz CD5004 and 6004/6005.

http://www.musicdirect.com/search.aspx?searchterm=cd%20players

 If your system is warmer or neutral consider a Music Hall or Cambridge Audio.  I own an Adcom AVR for HT, a Music Hall CD25.2 cd player, now used as a transport and I have owned a Cambridge Audio 840c and 740c and a Marantz SA8001 in the past.

Have you considered an outboard DAC?

[decal]

I used an NAD C516BEE player with my Adcom GFA535 amp and it was real nice sounding.

[thunderbrick]

Preamp? Speakers?  Tastes?  Music genre?     All of those figure in to recommendations.

[gnuyork]

Preamp? Speakers?  Tastes?  Music genre?     All of those figure in to recommendations.

Ah sorry... the preamp is the Adcom GTP 500 II (not crazy about it, but the seller threw it in for free with the amp). Speakers are made by a company called SLS - they are towers with ribbon drivers , and sound quite nice. I do have a 12 inch sub as well, but not currently hooked up. Speakers retail in the 5K ish range and $2500 for the sub.

Tastes are mostly Jazz, blues, and rock - though I would like to get into some classical at some point. Right now I am using a SONY DVD player - system sounds pretty good, but I have a feeling I can do better with a proper CD player. I plan to add a turn table at some time in the future. Missed out of a Rock III here from a seller (got damaged when being packed for shipping). In the short term I'd like to get a proper CD player. It would not hurt my feelings if the sound is on the warmer side.

Thanks

[gnuyork]

Have you considered an outboard DAC?

Yes, but I am inquiring because there is an NAD 545 for sale in the classifieds. There is also the Cambridge Azure 640C.  I'm not looking to spend a lot right now, but both of these are within budget for used components.


Also I used to have a Squeezebox running aiffs in iTunes, and though it was convenient, I found cd playback on my DVD player to sound better with the same material.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

It looks like you prefer a warmer sound.  I would definetly go with a Marantz.  Even the lower end Marantz Cd players have the warmer house Marantz sound.  There are good deals on the 5004, 6004 and 6005 at the Music Direct link I posted earlier.

This place has good prices as well on Marantz gear if you don't mind factory refurb's-

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/CDPlayer/Home-Audio/CD-SACD-Players/1.html

[gnuyork]

It looks like you prefer a warmer sound.  I would definetly go with a Marantz.  Even the lower end Marantz Cd players have the warmer house Marantz sound.  There are good deals on the 5004, 6004 and 6005 at the Music Direct link I posted earlier.

This place has good prices as well on Marantz gear if you don't mind factory refurb's-

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/CDPlayer/Home-Audio/CD-SACD-Players/1.html

Well not too warm, I guess I am looking for a more analogue sound if that even makes sense (less digital harshness).