CD player suggestions...

Got to disagree with the Emotiva recommendation.

That one that got sent back.

Looks nice, cool remote, but non-gapless playback is a huge problem.

I opened that CD player up, and it’s a $10 plastic OEM computer drive.

Complete junk packaged in a nice looking case.

In the price range you’re looking at, I would check out Cambridge Audio or Marantz.

@ampus ,

"Not sure why the Emotiva hate from some of the posters."

Well, since you asked, I will tell you my experience with the ERC-4.

Purchased new/direct from Emotiva. Unit arrived with the metal faceplate for the drive tray bouncing around in the box. No big deal, as you could easily tell that it was just super-glued onto the drive tray to begin with. Easy fix, but it did make me wonder why it wasn’t at least screwed down, other than the actual drive (and tray) are plastic.

Gapless playback. The fact that this exists in any player being offered as a "new product" is simply unacceptable.

The CD drive itself. I opened the case and removed the shroud, which exposes the CD drive. It’s a plastic Chinese OEM CD-Rom drive for a PC. I looked it up on the internet and they cost $10 a piece.

RCA vs XLR. The specs in the manual state that it is a fully balanced CD player. This is NOT the case. The manual states a gain of +3db using XLR vs RCA. Again, NOT the case.

Overall Sound. Nothing special. Sounded similar to an old Sony ES CD changer I still use which was manufactured in the mid-90’s. Emotiva claims this as a Reference Grade, Audiophile Grade CD player. Clearly (and I do mean clearly), this is not the case.

Now, the ERC-4 LOOKED nice. Great display, and nice remote. Unfortunately, that’s about where the enjoyment ended for me. I returned it to Emotiva and ate the restocking fee. To be fair, the return was easy, and their support staff didn’t seem too surprised by my request to return the product for a refund.

I have had a lot of CD players over the years (and still do), and in my honest opinion, the Emotiva is a $99 CD player in a stamped metal chassis that should cost under $200 (and that’s being generous), but they are selling it as a "Reference Grade/Audiophile Grade" player for $600. No Gapless Playback? Not sure how that made it past the pre-production stage, but that is simply unacceptable in a player being offered in 2022.

I returned mine within the 30 day period, ate the restocking fee and moved on.

And there you go.

Gonna be hard to get SEPARATES for under $800 (which was the stated budget), @allears4u .