Help to pick redbook player


I want a player mainly for redbook CD listening, but SACD, DVD, DVD-A or changer would be a bonus. I narrowed my choices to these players. I might would have to get two players. I have no opportunity to audition most of them so I am asking your opinions which one has best redbook CD playback, perhaps in decending order:

1.Arcam CD72 - $500 used

2.ROTEL RCC-1055 CD changer $500 used

3.Yamaha DVD-S2300 SACD/DVD-A/DVD $800 new
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gCLD00010DVD-S2300

4.Philips 963 SACD/DVD/CD 192upsampling $360 new
http://www.consumer.philips.com/global/b2c/ce/catalog/product.jhtml;jsessionid=4NNPNVRQN2DXUCRQNAVRX2QKGBUTSHAW?divId=0&groupId=VIDEO_GR&catId=DVD_CA&subCatId=DVD_PLAYERS_SU&productId=DVD963SA

5.Sony 222ES changer SACD/CD $300 used

6. Rega Planet 2000 $550 used
http://www.rega.co.uk/html/planet.htm

Are they all pretty close in terms of redbook playback quality or some stand off much more? Thank you!
chelentano

Showing 2 responses by chelentano

Thank you guys, all your messages are very usefull to me. This is great board.

Yea, I've heard lotsa good thinks of Ah! and Jolida. I have not heard NAD, Shanling CD-S100 as most of these players. Though Shanling tube player with upsampling looks fun.

Fs_audio: Xindak looks also impressive, but too expensive for me.
Budrew: I guess I like detailed but rich sound if I could say so.

I thought Philps 963 DVD/SACD/CD player looks promising. It cobines versatility of multiformat player and features of hi-fi CD player:
- 192kHz Upsampling
- Multi-Layer DAC Board
- Ultra Low Jitter Master Audio Clock
- Fully Separate Analog and Digital Processors
- Separate Audio and Video Circuitry
- Twelve discrete Class-A buffer/amplifier modules
- Dual Laser Pickup
but it appears it's not regarded as better redbook player. I have no way of testing it but buying it.

Of all these players I only have heard multiple times Arcam Alpha 8 (not exactly CD72 model but I guess close) - my friend has it. And I thought I like it, and that's what I probably gonna get, though of course it's not just player - it's a combination of player + amp + speakers. So he's got Arcam Alpha 8 player + Arcam 50w amp + Kistrel speakers.

I've got Paradigm Studio 60 + HarnmanKardon AVR525 + 9-y old Sony (use as transport w/optical out) CD hi-fi system. My friend's system definetly sounds better. I don't know what I need to upgrade? I thought first I have to get CD player and hopefully SACD/DVDA palyer. I might would need to get separate amp - I am thinking of Rotel 1075 and using HK as prepro. May be Paradigms to be replaced by B&W CDM7NT...
Karabiyikoglu,
I bought Arcam Appha 9 player. Now I am thinking avr525 could serve as good prepro and then I would get 2-channel power amp for the main speakers. Do you think this is a good route?