Suggestions for New CD Player


I'm looking for a new CD player, modestly priced under $1,500, that will  work well with a 2-channel system featuring B&W 804S floorstanders, a McIntosh MC402 power amp, and a Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver used as a preamp.

My wife and I mostly listen to classical music, and have an extensive CD collection, particularly heavy in orchestral (e.g., Mahler, Beethoven) and opera (Wagner, Verdi) and piano/violin.  (My wife is a Julliard-trained musician.)   Pre-pandemic, we were frequent concert-goers, preferring about rows 8-15.  We also rock out on occasion. We appreciate fine equipment, but we're music-lovers rather than true audiophiles.

We previously had a Consonance Droplet CD player (tubed, nice sound quality, when it worked, which wasn't often enough) and a Lexicon RT-20 (a little harsh, and wouldn't play many discs).  I won't buy a used player.  In my experience, CD mechanisms are the most fragile of all components.

I realize I'm asking a lot at this price point, but life itself is compromise.  Don't really care about wireless capability or digital files.  SACD is nice, but redbook capability is what really matters to us.  Considering Cambridge Audio 851, Rega Apollo, but open to suggestions.

Your thoughts?






gg107

Showing 1 response by bobauch

I had an almost identical situation over a year ago,  and went with an Audiolab transport and Topping D50s dac. The latter was intended to be a bit of a stopgap measure, figuring I'd replace it after a few months if it wasnt up to my taste. I've now had it a year and its going nowhere. 
     The Audiolab made a big difference in sound over my Denon 1920 universal player, even with an original Cambridge audio dacmajic paired with it for a couple of months before the Topping purchase.
    As in your case , redbook was my primary concern. The Audiolab does that brilliantly. I find the Topping to do Redbook well but has additional flexibility such as higher bandwidths and excellent Bluetooth connectivity.