What is the best CD player ever - price no object, but....

[Holy Zoo]

... with this condition imposed: only list a CD player that you owned and lived with for awhile.

This is about CD playback quality only, not hi-rez (though if an SACD or DVD-A player turns out to be your favorite CD player, please do list it).

For me, it was my Marantz CD 67 MKII.

Unfortunatly, it bit the dust after a move, and I was never able to compare it head on with my current Sony 775 SACD player.

The best words to describe the Marantz was "neutral". It seemed like most of the budget $99 cd players that I had before were thin and/or bright. The Marantz sounded "right" to my ears.

[Gary]

I've a 775 too! I attached an Assemblage DAC made by Sonic Frontiers (it's old - goes up to 44 or something) and used the 775 as a transport for redbook. It made the stereo image much more precise, defined and gave me more detail - although louder.

So I was not too impressed with the 775 (by itself) for redbook.

So I bit the bullet and went for the 777ES model. The US / Cad. exchange rate is reasonable these days although it was still pretty expensive!

So it's the SA-777ES.

It won over the Rega Planet, Musical Fidelity upsampling CDP and the Arcam 82 & 92.

I think the Linn is a very, very strong contender, though..... I decline to give it a serious listen. ;)

[aashton]

I'm very fond of my Levinson set up and have no plans to see it go for the forseeable future. I tried (at home and at friends) quite a number of players before I decided on the Levinson - I could never get on with the likes of Krell for some reason even though when I was at college I thought their amps were the stuff of myths.

I also had an Accuphase DP70V for a few years and I wish I still had that gorgeous beastie - when we next move to a larger house I will probably treat myself to an old Accuphase for the bedroom :)

All the best - Andrew :cool:

[tomcat]

I like my Audiolab CD/Krell DAC combo very much. Soundstage, depth, midrange, bass, dynamics - everything is here.

[pdenny]

Well I'm not in the elite audiophile league like some of you but I've used a Toshiba SD-9200 DVD-A player for the past three years and it has the best redbook playback I've ever heard. Best DVD-Video performance too. Weighs a ton, built like a tank. Very cool looking too....

[-=Rudy=-]

My ancient Nakamichi OMS-7 was really gentle on the ears. At the time, it replaced my first-generation CD player, a Hitachi, as well as the little Sony, which was the firsit Discman model. My OMS-7 was grey market, so I only paid something like $500-$600 for what was a $1500 CD player.

The Nak sounded great, but was terribly designed. It began to get erratic, and while I shipped it back for a new laser, it was never the same and still hasn't played properly since then. It soured me on anything else with Nak's name on it.

[Ronflugelguy]

Anybody heard this Jolinda Tube Cd player?????

[vex]

I've owned more than a few redbook players over the years but nothing grossly high-end. I have the Toshiba SD-9200 and agree that it does a remarkable job with redbook. It was my favorite player until I got my Sony XA777-ES. It does a spectacular job with redbook discs. I've heard better players, but never owned or lived with them.

[SamS]

Originally posted by Gary
I've a 775 too! I attached an Assemblage DAC made by Sonic Frontiers (it's old - goes up to 44 or something) and used the 775 as a transport for redbook. It made the stereo image much more precise, defined and gave me more detail - although louder.

So I was not too impressed with the 775 (by itself) for redbook.

So I bit the bullet and went for the 777ES model. The US / Cad. exchange rate is reasonable these days although it was still pretty expensive!

So it's the SA-777ES.

It won over the Rega Planet, Musical Fidelity upsampling CDP and the Arcam 82 & 92.

I think the Linn is a very, very strong contender, though..... I decline to give it a serious listen. ;)

Did I miss your post where you decided to get the Sony SACD player Gary?

Did you get it yet? I'm glad you hunt for a new disc-spinner is over ;)

[Gary]

Originally posted by SamS


Did I miss your post where you decided to get the Sony SACD player Gary?

Did you get it yet? I'm glad you hunt for a new disc-spinner is over ;)

Yes, thanks, SamS! I did get the Sony XA-777-ES but I have not revealed that to too many people.

Why? It was the last one (new in box) that the Oade brothers had. They told me that they had several requests from others for this machine who are probably members of this board. I'll bet they are wondering why it suddenly became more popular! And poor 'ol Jeffrey can't exchange his noisy player because I bought the last one! :guilt:

So I've sorta been quiet about it. ;) So far. :D

And it's breaking in as you read this! Also on order: Cardas power cords! I'll break in the power cords while breaking in the 5.1 outputs.

Yep - it's a lot better than a lot of stuff I've been listening to (as posted above) And it plays marvelous SACDs to!

Well, now that I'm crapping all over the Head Gort's thread, I'd better shut up about it!

Sorry, Mr. Holy Zoo!

[Ronflugelguy]

Gary, I'm glad to hear that you finally got the player you wanted.
I'm happy for now with my 555es, however, i'd like to try one of those Jolinda CDP's for redbook. My Rotel doesn't sound too good to me anymore. I use the 555 for most of my redbook listening.

[Gary]

Thanks, Ron! Those ES machines are pretty good for redbook, huh? I'll bet that Dave (the Night Gort) Sony ES player is just as good!

HZ, did you ever try a Sony ES player?

[Metralla]

Originally posted by Gary
I did get the Sony XA-777-ES but I have not revealed that to too many people.
OK, Gary, you're a lucky man - to be picky, the model is actually the Sony SCD-XA777ES. ;)

By the way, can you hear any noise from the machine when it reads the TOC on an SACD?

What are you going to do with the 775?

[Metralla]

Originally posted by Gary
Also on order: Cardas power cords! I'll break in the power cords while breaking in the 5.1 outputs.
Stick 'em on the fridge or a washing machine (make an adapter) for a month. No one should have to listen to power cords in their early stages of life.

[audio]

This is certainly the "best" looking CD player ever.:D

[AudioEnz]

My hi-fi magazine has just reviewed the SACD version (http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2003/shanling_t200.shtml) of that gorgeous Shanling.

It's two-channel only, but sounds wonderful.

[audio]

Originally posted by AudioEnz
My hi-fi magazine has just reviewed theSACD version (http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2003/shanling_t200.shtml) off that gorgeous Shanling.

It's two-channel only, but sounds wonderful.



Yes, the T200 is superb.

[Gary]

Originally posted by Metralla

OK, Gary, you're a lucky man - to be picky, the model is actually the Sony SCD-XA777ES. ;)

By the way, can you hear any noise from the machine when it reads the TOC on an SACD?

What are you going to do with the 775?

Hi Metralla! Nope, the machine is dead silent (except when playing music.... ;) ).

I was thinking of selling the 775 here on the forum.

Or I can sell my HK to a friend and keep the 775 as a house system.

I wonder if anyone would want it when they have the inexpensive universal Pioneer player to choose instead?

And that's a great idea about the power cords! Even the store said they sound funny until they break in! :eek:

Thanks! :)

[Dave23]

Originally posted by Ronflugelguy
Anybody heard this Jolinda Tube Cd player?????

I've got a Jolida JD-100A. How does it sound? In a word – superb. The technology simply disappears and leaves only the music. Bass is nice and tight, mid-range is full and smooth, and the high-end is clean and extended. IMO – it does not sound like a CD player, at least not like I’m used to. I can listen for hours on end with absolutely no fatigue.

For reference, my system is composed of -
Antique Sound Lab AQ1001 DT Integrated Tube Amp
Jolida JD 100A Tube CDP
Jean-Marie Reynaud Twin MKIII Loudspeakers


-Dave

[Claus]

I had Sony's first high end CD player... seperate units for the drive and converter. Very good bass... but still the digital sound .

After I purchased various players from Krell... this beast is still in my living room:
http://www.ccheng.de/musik/hifidelity/bilder/krell2.jpg

the remote control center is sooooo big... I must hold the center with both hands :sigh:

Great sound... thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I also had... the seperate units for a couple years - the converter unit had a seperate power supply... probably the biggest one what I've ever seen.
(below the converter... a headphones Class-A amp by Krell.
http://www.ccheng.de/musik/hifidelity/bilder/krell5.jpg:

[Claus]

http://www.ccheng.de/news/bilder/remote.jpg

[grbl]

My favorite is the one I still have in my main system: Enlightened Audio Designs DSP7000 Series III DAC/EAD T-1000 transport. I'm also pretty fond of my CAL CL-15 that I have in my bedroom system - an absolute steal for $1,650.

[Gardo]

Originally posted by Gary


Hi Metralla! Nope, the machine is dead silent (except when playing music.... ;) ).

I was thinking of selling the 775 here on the forum.

Or I can sell my HK to a friend and keep the 775 as a house system.

I wonder if anyone would want it when they have the inexpensive universal Pioneer player to choose instead?

And that's a great idea about the power cords! Even the store said they sound funny until they break in! :eek:

Thanks! :)

Gary, to my ears and on my system the 775 sounded quite a bit better on SACD than the Pioneer 563A. Better depth, smoother and more extended treble, much more of that "oh my goodness" palpability I associate with SACD.

[pdenny]

Originally posted by AudioEnz
My hi-fi magazine has just reviewed the SACD version (http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2003/shanling_t200.shtml) of that gorgeous Shanling.

It's two-channel only, but sounds wonderful.

$5600 and it cuts out between tracks? Gimme a break. :confused:

[HeavyDistortion]

"Why? It was the last one (new in box) that the Oade brothers had. They told me that they had several requests from others for this machine who are probably members of this board. I'll bet they are wondering why it suddenly became more popular! And poor 'ol Jeffrey can't exchange his noisy player because I bought the last one! :guilt"


Gary,

You must be the "Mad Platter???" fellow from Canada that Jim Oade mentioned to me that the last XA-777ES was being held for. Had you not ended up with it, I would have been next in line for their last XA-777ES. No problem though, because I found a mint used XA-777ES on Audiogon the next morning, for a very decent price.





Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion