I would stay with an ARC CD player if that's what you're familiar with and have enjoyed so much. Since the OP didn't mention a preference for digital playback other than a redbook CD player, I wouldn't recommend an outboard DAC. I personally prefer an excellent standalone CD player over an outboard DAC. And while my Oppo BDP-95 or former BDP-83SE are good all-around players, they sound grainy and loose in the bass department compared to any Simaudio CD player that I've owned.
Crazy to buy a 17 year old CD Player?
My ARC CD2 just died...I think the laser finally gave up the ghost. Any how I've got thousands of red book CDs in my library and need a replacement player. I'm thinking an ARC CD 3MKII or the Mark Levinson 390S. Am I crazy to be thinking this? Got a budget of around $2000.00. My system, though dated, is made up of higher end stuff: ARC 25 pre amp, ARC VT 150 mono amps, VPI TNT IV, Wilson Witts, all running through Transparent Reference (Balanced).
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I just received my (new) Oppo 205. Balanced outputs via Cardas cables into my Jeff Rowland gear. It is well beyond my expectations. Honestly - and SACD's and DVD-A sound great - I'm most impressed by CD playback. It makes me question the higher resolution formats...and frankly I haven't sat an critically listened to digital in a while. 5 sampling filtes - I ended up leaving it at the default 'brick wall', but some of the filters definitely shaped the top end in various ways. All this to say - it's a $1300 +/- player which is brilliant, with the very latest transport (note, I didn't say DAC etc etc - but that is true, as well) and media player (if you choose to embark on any other formats). The transport - if you want to play with other DAC's - is brilliant as well. For your budget - give it a try - let it burn in/settle in for a while, and see if you like it. I sure did mine. You could also send it in for a mod if that is to your liking. |
Let me be the last in the thread to suggest an upgrade to an Oppo CD player. I have had the 103D for several years and with a $375 upgrade from Stereo Dave's Audio Upgrade (which was without a doubt the most efficacious tweak I have ever had done to an audio component in my system), it is an excellent CD player. I have run the Oppo signal through several different DAC's, including the Schiitt Gungnir and Channel Islands Audio VDA 2, and hear no improvement in SQ compared to running the Oppo straight into my preamp. To my way of thinking, Oppo CD players offer unbeatable performance for mid-fi prices. |
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I found playing a CD from a SSD music server smoother than from a CD player (and easier). I would try to spend about a thousand on a music server and a thousand on a DAC. You can upgrade either in the future. Maybe add DSD or MQA if they are around in 5 years. Also you can download hi rez. and raid all you buddies CD libraries. |
I have bad experience with old CD players, specifically a Quad CD77 with a CDM 12.4 laser mechanism and a TEAC VRDS 9. One problem is that in many cases, plastics used on the laser lens housing get polymerized with time. If the lens itself is made of plastic, the laser fails reading the CD properly. If the lens mount gets polymerized, the laser gets misaligned with obvious results. The thing is that even if you get hold of an identical spare part, there is always a risk that its plastics got polymerized just by sitting on a warehouse rack. Apart from that, components age with time, especially drawer motors and caps. I would avoid any old CD player, unless I could get it dirt cheap. |
Even though I like both of my CD players, I agree with many here, like zagoreos and anzaanimalclinic, CD players have moving parts, power supplies and other parts that can age, create noise, and are not simple devices like a spinning HDD and memory buffer or chip. Too me a computer or streamer device can deliver a cleaner and clearer presentation of the music. That and the fact that digital music is in it’s infancy and is evolving rapidly. I don’t think it will be long before the quality of the sound will match master analog tapes. Option 1 You can get a $750 streaming device and have $1250 left over for a great DAC. The Bluesound Vault 2 can do both jobs and would allow you to rip all your CDs into it's HDD. Option 2 Find a used NAD M50.2 (also with the option to rip your CD collection) and prepare to be amazed. |
There's a sweet tubed CDP, a Raysonic 228, for sale on USAudioMart. Original price: $4,000. Seller is open to offers and seems motivated? There is also one for sale on CanuckAudioMart for CAD$1,250 (~US$1,000) which should give you some negotiating room. |
I like Dekay's post suggesting the Cary DCM600 on sale 1/3 the price. https://carydirect.com/shop-now/digital-sources/dmc-600.html |
An Oppo UDP 205 will give you video as well, plus a very fine DAC that you can use with other sources such as a Chromecast Audio or a television. I have my tv connected to my stereo system for much better audio, and I do not need multichannel (two Quad 2805 electrostats are big enough in the living room). And playing opera with both high quality video and excellent stereo audio is a joy. |
Forget about trying to get a low jitter signal from a CD player. You have to spend at least $20K to achieve this. You can get the same or better result by purchasing a cheaper CD player, even used, with S/PDIF output and reclock it with a good reclocker and then drive a good coax cable to your DAC. Get a transport that is new enough to use the triple-laser technology. Even cheap Blu-Ray will work if it has S/PDIF output. CD transport - $300-400 Reclocker - $600 Coax cable - $250 total = $1250 |
Well, it's been about 4 months with the Ayre5xeMP. Basically happy with the sound......the ARC had been dead for so long can't make valid comparisons to it. The only problem is having tasted of the Apple, am now wondering about streaming and the like. The Ayre has no digital ins so am looking at an outboard dac. Such is the nature of the hobby. Still, my CDs sound great and am listening more these days, so it's all good. |