Best redbook-only CD Player under $10k - Bryston BCD3, Resolution Audio Cantata 3.0, ....

REGA ISIS valve

Aesthetix Romulus Eclipse

I would definitely add the Gryphon Mikado to that list. 4 AKM Dac chips,
32 / 192 upsampling and a beautiful organic sound that if listened to blind you would swear you were not listening to digital. It is now unfortunately
discontinued and has been replaced with the Scorpio because Gryphon could not get supplies of the Phillips top loading drive so it was replaced with a front loading one but all other specs are exactly the same. I must admit that I really love mine and will never get rid of it. If you can get a well looked after used one then I am sure you would love it too.

PS Audio Direct Stream Player and DAC

Nice query- goldman,

I have been wanting to demo the Bryston players (BCD-1/BCD-3) as well.
I will second the Aesthetix- I auditioned that player in an all -Aesthetix system w/ Vandersteen speakers.
Happy Listening!

Add the Hegel Mohican to the list, though look forward to hearing the Aesthetix and am still inclining to the BCD-3.

goldman
Best redbook-only CD Player under $10k
I’m ok with high quality used gear too.

R2R Multibit conversion is the best way to hear RedBook pcm 16/44 24/96 or DXD.

Used "players" in order of preference I’ve heard all use R2R Multibit conversion.

Naim CD555 with optional 555 power supply.
Linn Sondek CD12 last MkIII version
Mark Levinson No.39

Cheers George

jtsnead,

I also love my Direct Stream Memory Player/ Dac combo.

ozzy

Love the EAR Yonshio Acute Classic - it's a redbook CD player and included wonderful DAC. 

Ayon CD5s used or new Ayon CD35se. Robust tubed power supply and output stage, class A preamp with analogue volume control included. Best I have heard and I have heard many.

Yes the Ayon CD5s would be a good used choice, as it uses 4 x PCM1704K R2R multibit converter chips.
But the 35se to me would not be as good for Redbook, as it can do sacd which would mean it has to be a delta sigma converter of sorts, not the best way for converting Redbook.

Cheers George

I love my Esoteric player with the Burr Brown PCM1704 R to R ladder Dac Chip.  Sounds so analog like.

I recently purchased the OPPO 205 (My 3rd OPPO) which has probably the best DAC in the world the  ES9038PRO DAC. They also produce UHD equipment. Their engineering skill is obvious every time I look at a blue ray or 4K disk. The same is true for their 
analog balanced output signal into my Pass Lab amp from CDs. I really don't understand why anyone would pay the price for the so called reference CD players when they can have an OPPO. There are simply engineering limits on what a DAC can actually do with a CD
and OPPO has them solved to a level that should satisfy anyone with an excellent system.

Look at the Sparkler Audio S503 Smart CD Player. I have listened to this numerous times at Charney Audio (Dealer). Every time I’m overly impressed what this little cd player with the NOS TDA1543 can do with red book. The player is $1750.00, save your money!  If your in the NY,NJ,PA area you can check it out at Charney Audio.
http://sparkler-audio.com/portfolio/S503_en.html
http://charneyaudio.com/sparkler.html

Thanks for the responses so far.  I’ve listened to the Gryphon Scorpio in an all Gryphon system, so it was tough to know what the CD Player was contributing.  Good sound though.  Which Esoteric has R2R Ladder multi bit DAC....all of them or just one in particular? I own a 205 (for a TV system) but have tried it in my main system, unfortunately is was disappointing in comparison to my Cary CD300 on every dimension.  I’ve read good things about about Ayon but have not experienced one in person....I will seek one out.  Aesthetix is week regarded but I have had a Tube CD player for 23 years....I’m kinda leaning to the best that SS has to offer....but I’ll add it to the audition list.  So far The short list includes BDC3, Cantata, Eclipse, Scorpio.  

goldman
Which Esoteric has R2R Ladder multi bit DAC....all of them or just one in particular?

Cary 303/200 has a PCM1704 R2R multibit


Esoteric  CD Player Models with R2R Multibit converters are.

ESOTERIC X-01   8 x PCM1704 

ESOTERIC X-03   4 x PCM1704 

ESOTERIC X-1      4 x AD1862N

ESOTERIC X-1S   4 x AD1862N

ESOTERIC X-10w / X-10WD   2 x AD1864N

ESOTERIC X-25  4 x AD1862N

Esoteric Dacs with R2R Multibit are.

ESOTERIC D-01   8 x PCM1704

ESOTERIC D-1   2 x PCM64P 

ESOTERIC D-2    4 x PCM1701P

ESOTERIC D-3   8 x AD1862N

ESOTERIC D-10   2 x PCM64P

ESOTERIC D-30   8 x PCM63P-K

ESOTERIC D-70   4 x PCM1704

Cheers George

Musical Fidelity NuVista CD player. Just in budget, great Sonics, awesome build quality.

The BCD-3 is well under $10000 and a solid performer.  I've had one in my system now for just about a year.  It betters a Sony ES5400 CD/SACD player that I still have in my system and a 20 year old Meridian 508.24 which it replaced.  I would be surprised if you could find a better player for the price but if you are willing to go to the upper limits of your budget I suspect you could find a better player...but the returns IMO will be diminishing.  As much as I enjoy the BCD-3 I find I am using it less and less as I have added digital streaming to my system and am finding that the sound quality of even modest streamers/dacs approach or equal the quality of the BDC-3.  All this to suggest that might not want to go all in with your budget on a CD player unless you absolutely sure you will never get into streaming your files.

In that price range a Rega Isis is tough to beat.

jafant

No, I never heard the BCD-1.

Much Thanks! randyhat

Take a look at the high end used SimAudio-
Those CD Players, particularly, the "Special Edition" models are built like tanks, and came with a 20 year Warranty. I mean, that is unheard of for CD players b/c of the moving parts. 
And yes, they made super high end CDPs for only 16/44.

@goldman I have listened to the Cantata side by side to the above mentioned Sparkler S503. The Sparkler has a real organic natural truth to the music, where the Cantata, although very good, lacked naturalness. The Cantata was good Hifi where the Sparkler had great realism in sound quality.
This comparison was done on a revealing high efficiency horn system with stellar associated electronics.
As usual YMMV.