I'd buy a really well built player to be used as a transport and invest the real money into a DAC. As DACs keep becoming obsolete, you can replace or upgrade them while sticking with a solid transport. Personally, I'd pick up a great universal player as the transport to make sure that all of your discs can be read properly.
Considerations when buying older CD player
I'm seeking some input from folks in the know about CDP transports, repairs, etc.
Suppose one is looking at buying an older CD player -- let's say, just to pick one I've checked out -- that we are talking about the Naim CDX. Now, suppose further that I read up on it and learn, to quote from the Stereophile review:
"Based on Philips CD7 parts and components, the CDX features a Philips VAM 1205 transport. An SAA 7376 servo-controller chip controls the transport, converts what the laser "sees" into digital data, and performs error correction."
Is this good news or bad news? Simply put, if one buys a used Naim CDX and it poops out, are replacement parts -- transport and laser and all the rest of the stuff that might break -- likely to be available, or is one left with a useless, and not inexpensive, piece of junk?
(Note to those who'd write to say that thinking about CD players is yesterday's news, that I ought to be into streaming and computer audio and high res and all the rest: I've been doing all of that for years now. But that's not my question. My question, for which I'd love an answer from someone who knows and understands, is how to know if one is buying a CDP that can be fixed when it conks out, which it eventually will.)
Thanks very much.
Warm regards,
-- Howard
Suppose one is looking at buying an older CD player -- let's say, just to pick one I've checked out -- that we are talking about the Naim CDX. Now, suppose further that I read up on it and learn, to quote from the Stereophile review:
"Based on Philips CD7 parts and components, the CDX features a Philips VAM 1205 transport. An SAA 7376 servo-controller chip controls the transport, converts what the laser "sees" into digital data, and performs error correction."
Is this good news or bad news? Simply put, if one buys a used Naim CDX and it poops out, are replacement parts -- transport and laser and all the rest of the stuff that might break -- likely to be available, or is one left with a useless, and not inexpensive, piece of junk?
(Note to those who'd write to say that thinking about CD players is yesterday's news, that I ought to be into streaming and computer audio and high res and all the rest: I've been doing all of that for years now. But that's not my question. My question, for which I'd love an answer from someone who knows and understands, is how to know if one is buying a CDP that can be fixed when it conks out, which it eventually will.)
Thanks very much.
Warm regards,
-- Howard