Recommendation on great CD player ?

michaelv · « **on:** 2 Feb 2006, 03:27 pm »

Hi,
Could you recommend any great CD players in range of $1,200 or below , new or used, that will work greate with Plinius integrate amp?

thanks.

CJ Paul · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 03:31 pm »

Three options, (1) go with a well known CD player in your budget (i.e. an Arcam or equivilent) (2) find a modder and get a modded mainstream player, the idea being that you are paying for a good transport modded with top notch parts and skip the extra cost of the brand name association of higher end units (3) do some research on which low-end units implement good transports (often the units that modders choose to use for that very reason) and add a nice external DAC.

ricmon · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 03:35 pm »

Folks on the ring aretalking alot about these dac.

http://www.gr-research.com/components/lite_dacs.htm

michaelv · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 03:37 pm »

CJ Paul,
Which model of Arcam do you recommend? i see tons of them on A'gon , but not sure which one is good. Currently , i have Rotel rcd-1072. I like it , but i would like to see other options too.
thanks.

CJ Paul · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 06:19 pm »

Your rotel would be a good candiate for adding a DAC. I bought a used Arcam Alpha 7SE on Agon a few years ago. For the price it was a good stand alone CDP but I'm thinking about adding a DAC and I'm only out $200 for the transport which you cant beat that even with a cheap Pioneer or Toshiba that some of the modders use. I'd looke for a good DAC to use with your Rotel as a transport if you want to improve CD playback.

skrivis · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 06:31 pm »

Quote from: CJ Paul

association of higher end units (3) do some research on which low-end units implement good transports (often the units that modders choose to use for that very reason) and add a nice external DAC.

I found that it was less expensive to buy a low end DVD player instead of a CD player. There's a Philips model that sells for around US$60 and the transport is quite good. It has digital outs, both coax and optical. I figure I can always buy another cheapie if this one dies. It even does mp3, although I don't know if I'll ever use that feature.

CJ Paul · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 06:34 pm »

skrivis, I agree, but as in my case, it doesn't make sense to sell a good CD player and buy a cheap DVD player and a DAC, just get the DAC. When people buy those "giant killer" DVD players to use as a transport it means they are a good transport for the price, but it is still unlikely that they are better than using a good CDP as a transport. My Arcam was ~$700 MSRP new. I'm sure the transport is good, so that being said, a $60 DVD player with DAC XYZ is not going to be BETTER than the Arcam with the same DAC.

michaelv · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 07:03 pm »

I actually look at Benchmark DAC-1. There are lots of good review on it.

skrivis · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 07:04 pm »

Quote from: CJ Paul

skrivis, I agree, but as in my case, it doesn't make sense to sell a good CD player and buy a cheap DVD player and a DAC, just get the DAC. When people buy those "giant killer" DVD players to use as a transport it means they are a good transport for the price, but it is still unlikely that they are better than using a good CDP as a transport. My Arcam was ~$700 MSRP new. I'm sure the transport is good, so that being said, a $60 DVD player with DAC XYZ is not going to be BETTER than the Arcam with the same DAC.

Why is the Arcam better? Why is any one transport better than another?

Philips has been making CD/DVD players for a long time. It's pretty well sorted out by now. I don't see that you gain much by spending more money. The reliability of a more expensive player could be better, or not.

If it breaks, you spend another $50-60 and get a new one.

Perhaps a more expensive player or transport would offer better mechanical isolation, assuming that's an actual problem in your environment. However, it's still cheaper to by the Philips and put it on a piece of foam rubber or whatever than to buy one of the boutique players.

ctviggen · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 07:04 pm »

An external DAC may not be better than an all-in-one solution. In my system, I liked my Ack Dack 2.0 better than my Pioneer Elite (used as DAC) and my Proceed AVP's DAC (fed either from my Pioneer Elite DVD player or my later-purchased Proceed PMDT, a transport only). However, I took my Ack Dack 1.3d to my friend's and compared with his Proceed CDP. (Using the Proceed CDP as a transport to the Ack Dack.) We both liked the Proceed CDP better. Now, I did not use the same interconnects, as we didn't have two sets of the same interconnects. So perhaps that mucked up the analysis. Nonetheless, the Ack Dack 1.3d was dead in comparison to the Proceed CDP.

skrivis · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 07:07 pm »

Quote from: michaelv

I actually look at Benchmark DAC-1. There are lots of good review on it.

I have an OmegaStar DAC from Audio by Van Alstine. It performs very well.

CJ Paul · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 07:16 pm »

Quote

Why is the Arcam better? Why is any one transport better than another?

It wouldn't be, necessarily. Certainly some transports are better than others, but I was only making the point that if the original poster already has a Rotel, there is no point in getting a $60 DVD player and a DAC, just hook the DAC up to the Rotel. If he was starting from scratch, as I assumed in my original reply then I would not likely buy a mid/hi-fi CD player AND a DAC, I'd buy a cheaper DVD player and a DAC like you are suggesting.

skrivis · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 08:46 pm »

Quote from: CJ Paul

Quote
Why is the Arcam better? Why is any one transport better than another?
It wouldn't be, necessarily. Certainly some transports are better than others, but I was only making the point that if the original poster already has a Rotel, there is no point in getting a $60 DVD player and a DAC, just hook the DAC up to the Rotel. If he was starting from scratch, as I assumed in my original reply then I would not likely buy a mid/hi-fi CD player AND a DAC, I'd buy a cheaper DVD player and a DAC like you are suggesting.

Ok, I didn't recognize the Rotel model #'s, so I hadn't realized he had something already.

I was just expanding your suggestion #3 and indicating it might be quite worthwhile.

Personally, I'd much rather put my money into the DAC, which is where the most benefit will be gained. The differences between transports is more subtle, assuming it exists at all.

CJ Paul · « **Reply #13 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 08:52 pm »

Agreed.

budyog · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 10:03 pm »

I went from a cheap Toshiba along with Franks super Omegastar Topp-Dac (which I have for sale if you are interested) to the Onkyo sp-1000 and WOW, what a difference. There is another thread on AC about what has made the biggest difference in your system, It would be hard for me NOT to say the Onkyo 1000. It is a wonderfull player and must have an awsome DAC because it sounds great and images fantastic. You really should consider this machine.
Don't get me wrong, Frank VanAlstine's Omegastar Topp DAC was a very big jump up from just the Toshiba and then adding the DAC. It is a great DAC. I am asking $550 or make me an offer!

BobC · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 11:56 pm »

This may be a little premature but does anyone know of a DAC that has USB or HDMI connections?

I'm imagining using a future Blu-ray or HD DVD player for HT, but also as a CD transport to a DAC? Maybe even high rez?

....forget the fact that the specs arent done, and audio software doesnt exists.

Wishful thinking????

JoshK · « **Reply #16 on:** 3 Feb 2006, 12:47 am »

Quote from: skrivis

The differences between transports is more subtle, assuming it exists at all.

It shouldn't exist at all by all accounts but damn if it doesn't make a difference, not a huge one, but still very noticeable.

KJ · « **Reply #17 on:** 3 Feb 2006, 12:58 am »

I haven't heard one myself, but I read good things about Rega's new Apollo. I believe it is supposed to retail for ~$1000. Might be worth auditioning.

-KJ

audiophile39 · « **Reply #18 on:** 3 Feb 2006, 01:14 am »

Peter Moncrieff rates the Audio Aero Capitole CDP the best in the world...
http://www.iar-80.com/page24.html

michaelv · « **Reply #19 on:** 3 Feb 2006, 01:41 am »

How can you tell that one transport is better than another? I see some CPD is really heavy, and some is really light. So i guess heavier is better. What about put CDP on isolation platform?