[LFE]

I am looking for a great sounding machine, under $2000. So weigh in! I figure these pages are the best place to find opinions of gear, so tell me what you think the best is!

Thanks!

[bhobba]

I am looking for a great sounding machine, under $2000. So weigh in! I figure these pages are the best place to find opinions of gear, so tell me what you think the best is!

Best is a rather nebulas concept.  
Best in terms of value for money? Panasonic DVD player for the princely sum of about $80
http://db.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=hirez&m=168525
Maybe with some mods:
http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Modifications_to_SACD,_etc.html

Best in terms of convenience, saving money by not requiring a preamp, and actual sound quality? - my vote would go to a modded squeezebox from either Red Wine Audio or The Boulder Cable Company:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=20939

Thanks
Bill

[BRN]

I have my CDP up for sale on the trading post on this forum. It is a great player and now I'm wonder what I'm doing letting it go.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=23304.msg207049#207049

[Nick B]

For a while, I was considering the Marantz CD 5400 for $1,100 as modded/redesigned by Alex Peychev of APL HiFi. He has a great reputation for great sounding digital. I'm now much more likely to access my CD's via   a dedicated music server and modded SB3 or something similar. Note that some of Alex's customers can get a bit frustrated with his erratic communication. If you are interested, you can check out his forum at http://www.aplhifi.com/phpBB/  and his website at
http://www.aplhifi.com/      Good luck

[Parnelli777]

Very difficult to beat the Jolida JD100A. Real tube output stage, solid build, under $1000. Used at $500-700.

http://www.jolida.com/catalogue/models/jd100a.shtml

[KJ]

LFE,

What type of sound are you looking for?  Do you prefer ultimate detail, warmth of tubes, etc?

-KJ

[LFE]

I would say detail more than warmth. I am definetly a low end fan. I mainly listen to rock and roll (Wilco, Deftones, Broken Social Scene, etc).

[Marbles]

I would go with a computer based solution.

The computer does not have to be in the listening room.

Playback can be better than most CD players, and the ease of playing any CD without having to phyiscally locating it and then having to put it back is so convienent that once you try it, I don't think you will want to go back to a traditional CD player.

[jermmd]

I would also recommend using a computer based transport which is why I am probably going to sell my Xindak SC2 CD player. The players listed above sound like very sweet deals but I have never heard them. My CD player is the best I've heard and I've heard some outstanding CD players/transport-DAC combos.

[lcrim]

I totally agree w/ the above posters.  IMO, CD players are pretty much a thing of the past as a result of the big strides made in PC based audio playback of Redbook CDs.  At the price point of $2000, you can with only a little bit of research, source a system that competes w/ SOTA.  I don't even bother to read reviews or ratings of CD players anymore.
PC audio does require your participation in the ripping process and a small learning curve is involved.  A very small trade off.

[Joules]

How can I learn more about PC - CD

[Joules]

never mind --- I found it.

[ZooDog]

I have also recently gone to a computer-based system (iBook w/itunes and 250gb HD) and I will never use a cd player ever again.  It sounds great and the convenience of being able to access any song I want from my couch can't be beat.

[LFE]

What USB DAC are you guys using for the computer based system???

[JoshK]

LFE, is that hickok or T7VU tester in your avatar?

[mcrespo71]

Shouldn't the title of this be changed?  I was looking for CD player recomendations

Michael

[fredgarvin]

I'm surprised no-one has started in with their latest favorite "best" speakers of the day  You've probably noticed by now that this site tends to follow the pied piper. But that's Audio and that's why we like it.