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Suggest budget CDP to use as transport

I am looking for suggestions for an old high end or newer budget CDP with a decent transport mechanism to use for redbook playback through a modern DAC (in market for that now). Key factors are solid construction, good laser and transport mechanism for reliable reading of 0s and 1s from the disk and decent coax/RCA SPDIF implementation. Budget is $500 or under. Suggestions? Am currently using a budget BDP to spin disks, but it only has toslink and HDMI out and I am skeptical.

Sorry if this has already been hashed over before here - could not find in quick search of Forum.

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buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Look for a used Sony 595. This is a SACD deck so the pickup is excellent and it has an optical output which should work with most DAC's. I have two of these and they often sound better then my Sony 777. Some of the chips in the unit went into most of Sony hi-end players.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,436 posts
 
Get the CEC....no brainer! Awesome transport that a Rotel or other player will not match!
celtic66
1,610 posts
 
CEC is quite good and speaks to anyone suspect of transports not making a difference in reproduction. They do.
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knownothing OP
1,537 posts
 
Thanks for your feedback. CEC and EAD both gone already. Will keep eyes open. Do I take it that Pioneer made good transport mechanisms with well implemented SPDIF output? The Pioneer unit currently for sale lacks remote and seems expensive for what it is. What about used NAD C546BEE or Cambridge Azur 500 or 600 series?
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,666 posts
 
I agree. I like the Pioneer as a budget transport, but I'd rather have a CEC.
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