top loading cd players

Pro-Ject makes several I think. 

Bel Canto. 

Audio Note Uk, Burmester. Lector and Metronome Technologie

I own a (Japanese) CEC top-loader. Their transports and players are belt driven.

I owned an excellent Electrocompaniet top-fading CD player for many years, and I believe that they still make them.

There are others...

Aqua, Accustic Arts, and Jays

gwng8

Audio Research (ARC).    Happy Listening!

I would like to second the Audio Research CD player / DAC. It is a tremendous DAC / CD player.

I was very happy with my Sim Moon 650D / SIMM Moon 820 power supply ($18K). My dealer dropped a ARC Reference CD9se for me to try while dropping off something else. I did not ask, I was not in the market. I put it in my storage room. After a few weeks I started to feel guilty… I mean, it was really nice of him. I really respect his opinion. Ok, I pulled it out and put it in my system. It was much less than 30 seconds and I said, “shit, where am I going to get the money?” No way this is ever leaving my system.. Within a minute I was typing a message to him to order one for me. One of the best components I have ever heard.

Months later… having long ago received my copy of the Ref 9SE and broken it in. My dealer lent me a Berkeley Alpha Reference DAC ($22K). I read the reviews, I was expecting to end up buying it. He left it for several weeks. BYW, I have a Aurender W20SE streamer and typically stream most of the time…. The streamer sounds exactly the same as red book CDs on the CD transport on the ARC CD9SE… but better when Qobuz streams higher resolution files (btw, equal to my really good vinyl playback).

Anyway, the difference between the ARC as a DAC and the Berkeley was simply so small to be noticed by anyone but a very experienced audiophile. I liked (a tiny bit warmer and more natural) the ARC better despite its $5K higher cost. The Berkeley had a tiny, tiny, tiny bit more detail and was really natural sounding… but the ARC won. If I owned the Berkeley I would have coughed up the $5K for the ARC… and you get the CD transport free… what a bargain.

Does Sony still make one? X5000 or X3000? 777ES? I always wanted on of those but Santa never got me one.

Exposure XMCD

I'll second the pro-ject...

Recommend Jay’s Audio. As a bonus you get support from Alvin Chee, who is terrific. 

I have a Sparkler S505 top loader CD player, predecessor to this newly released model http://www.sparkler-audio.com/portfolio/S515_en.html

YBA make them, both in CD player and transport varieties at different budget levels.

The project rs2 disc transport is an audiophile cheap (relative) gem especially when using the seperate linear power supplies 

in Euope Vitus - 

Do you have a budget in mind?
Do you need a full cd-player (CDP) or is a transport (CDT) + dac ok?

Audio Note UK has a very engaging sound, if your system is complimentary.

MBL make top quality CD players , Ayon possibly too have not seen theirs lately  though.

puffball08, how do you find your Sparkler S505? I looked at the website, the new models (S503, S507 etc) appear very well made (maybe handmade). These look really intriguing. Can you expand a bit on the qualities? Any issues? And, how is your experience with the distributor, VKMusic.ca (if that was your source)?

+1 for the CEC top loader from Japan. I own their transport with a Denafrips Ares2 . LOVE IT.

California Audio Labs offers a top load transport. 

thanks everyone, a lot more than I expected. I will certainly look into audio note, and sparkler is very interesting, as do metronome and exposure....I also found lector. Some like project, and jay’s no longer make cd players, and I am not looking for only a spinner. Someone asked about budget, well lets just say MBL, burmeistr etc, I can not consider.

As for CEC, its under consideration I’m just worried about belts. The reason I’m looking for a top loader is its one thing less to worry about.

As for CEC, its under consideration I’m just worried about belts. The reason I’m looking for a top loader is its one thing less to worry about.

FWIW, the main reason that I replaced my (excellent) SimAudio Moon 260D transport (not a top-loader) with a C.E.C. was not the belt drive, but the use of a weight employed on top of the CD. Electrocompaniet used the same basic approach, as do some other manufacturers, and I am fairly convinced that there are advantages.

As for the belts in the C.E.C. products, my understanding is that at least on the newer TL-5, which I own, they are very easy for the user to replace, should it become necessary. No need to send it in for service.

@umrkretread I’ve had the Sparkler for a year and a half.  No complaints, well made, yes, hand made stainless case, small, uses Philips TDA1543 D/A and discrete analog path (=no opamp ICs).  Don’t know whose CD transport is used but whatever is in there works well.  Sound quality is very good, warm and smooth.  Machine has basic functions which the remote mimics.  Easy to read display.  Distributor, Victor is great guy and easy to work with.  When I bought the S505, they were being made to order and sent directly from Japan.  

I have an Audio Aero Capitole Reference top loading CDP/DAC on another site if you are interested.  Retailed for $9,500 new, but selling to clear $3K after shipping. Great unit in excellent condition.  I've primarily used it as a DAC and preamp as prefer the convenience of streaming vs. CD's.

It’s been a long time since Iheard the Aero Capitole player.  I bet it still is a terrific sounding unit—very smooth and relaxed sounding (not edgy or brittle), yet clear and not sluggish.  It was a favorite of mine, along with Audio Note players and DACs.

Add Lector to the list.

Happy Listening!

Yes, Lector makes fantastic sounding players at less than crazy prices.  They also make pretty good phono stages.

well i ended up going with Rega.  The contact from sparkler was kind of a jerk, CEC has the belts which I'm not so sure about long term, and I couldn't get a response from anyone affiliated with Lector or the company itself (same went for metronome).  I am amazed how many companies that charge so much for their products have such s**t service.  Anyways Rega has a lifetime warranty and they are still updating their products so I'm good.

Thanks all