Cambridge D500SE ??

My dealer has it. His assistant was telling me about it. Said he didn't have time to give it a listen. Too busy with holiday sales... Said price was unchanged($450) - that would be great if he's correct. He didn't say it was a 24 bit player, but I found out on my own. Him and the owner have always maintained that the D500 is THE sleeper in digital. From what I have heard of other people, it seems true(would love other people's takes on this). So good a player, that he doesn't carry the NAD Silver Series CD player(says it isn't worth it). Next jump up from this(and the Jolida he sells) are the Linn, Naim, Electrocompaniet players.

Thank you for the detailed information Sugarbrie. Interesting how Sam Tellig reviewed the non - SE version a few months back, and listed precious little technical information. It would be nice if his reviews contained the same objective data(in sidebars) as everyone else at Stereophile(along with test measurements - hey, JA lives in Brooklyn now...). I enjoy reading Sam, but sometimes his reviews are on par with those from AudioReview. Even worse was his review the next month on the Musical Fidelity A3 CD(one of the most uninformative reviews I have ever read in technical terms). I had been looking at the Cambridge site, but it is lacking in up to date information(doesn't even list the SE versions of the new players). The best I did was following your advice, and checking it out on AudioAdvisor. They were spot on, and up to date. I really need a new player, but am hesitant to buy an expensive one. I am thinking I should wait for a new universal(CD/SACD/DVD-A), but I have now been waiting for over three years to make my move. Maybe getting a player of this regard, for this price is a good option... Thanks again.

I bought a Cambridge D500 SE today. Sounds pretty nice out of the box. I really needed a player to hold me over for the period of uncertainty(I had been waiting to upgrade for 3 long years). I compared it to other players(in its class - didn't want to spend too much $$$), and it was the best. Then, after paying, my dealer drops the ULTIMATE bombshell. One from which I still haven't recovered. He gives me a piece of paper with a warning about the player(from Cambridge). It says the player has a 24 bit/192 kHz processor designed for CD !!!***AND*** SACD!!! I asked, and he confirmed, that it plays SACD. He said he has played SACDs with it! I was floored, and asked why he didn't tell me before. I would not have needed to audition any other player, had I known this. I also told him to tell anyone looking at this player FIRST, before telling them ANYTHING else. The product literature makes NO mention of SACD whatsoever, so I am going to have to go out and buy one. Just to see... If it does, THIS $450 player will soon sell faster than lemonade on a July day. Will keep everyone posted.

By the way, I want to be clear. Until I see(and hear) this player play a SACD, I do NOT believe it. Otherwise, they would be advertising it as such.

Miked, the player does have a detachable power cord. I didn't even take the supplied one out of its wrapper. There is a caution on the box that the player does not include cables(interconnects), which my dealer told me about. I wouldn't have taken them out of their wrapper either. I am using HomeGrown Audio Silver Lace IC, and a Delta Silver Source silver power cord. I did not compare it to the new Planet 2000, which my dealer also carries. I decided I would buy a cheaper player(mine was beginning to act a little funny), and wait another year or two for a universal player. Maybe then I will go all out. In my opinion, this player's DAC is designed for SACD, but I do not think the optics will be able to read a SACD. If this is the case, I am not sure what that buys me. I think this player is the equal of the old Planet, which I am quite(if not very) familiar with. Out of the box, the player was mid - fi in sound. There is a warning(another!?!) sticker on the top of the player. Message is to give the player 36 hours of use before it will sound best. The one thing I wanted in a new player was weight in the music. And so far, it does not give that. Dynamics are OK. Clarity and soundstaging are the strong suits of this machine. I keep reading this player is the bargain in audio, but I am a bit underwhelmed. I was expecting it to really trounce my OLD CD player. It is better, but I wish there was more. It was the best of its class, in the store. That being said, I will give it the required break - in, and wait to form a concrete opinion.