New CD Player


Good afternoon,

 

Quick question.  I have a Cary Audio CDP 1 cd player that is about 10-12 years old.  Still works and sounds good.  Being that is a bit dated, I thought about the new Marantz CD 60 cd player.  Any thoughts on how that might compare to the Cary and would it be an upgrade.

Thank you.      

adiorio

Jasonbourne71, just reading over your post brings back some nice memories for me of some of the vintage tube gear I have owned over the years; including a Futterman H3, ARC D70 MK2, and a pair of Heath W5m monoblocks. These were great sounding amplifiers!

I still have my late Dad’s Dynakit Stereo 70 that he built in 1961, which I intend to have restored at some point.

As for new CD players, there are still a surprising number of options available at various price points. I have my Dad’s Naim CDI which is in excellent shape. Given that it’s over 30 years old I use it sparingly. I also have an Onkyo C-7030 which I purchased new in 2017. It continues to receive light use as a dedicated transport for a few of my dac’s. When it gives up the ghost I’ll probably be looking for something with a smaller footprint like Shandling’s latest offerings. (The ET3 transport looks very interesting). Their newest CD player and transport offer a lot of functionality for well under $1000.

It’s also refreshing to see that CD players are still being manufactured by several companies. Good news for those of us who still own plenty of CD’s.

 

 

 

They do sound different,

You need to try them to hear whether you think it is an improvement from your prior player.

better or preferred is a personal determinization.

It's not just the zero's and 1's

it is the 'SALAD' of ingredients any specific player has:

Processor; Filters, Over-Clocking, Up-scaling, retaining DSD to output; Separate lasers for CD/SACD

My last upgrade: better sounding CD player. I went thru 9 used CD players until I found/bought/love (with help here) a used Sony xa5400 ES. Difference so good I am re-discovering my CDs and buying used CDs.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/4000/40006911M.pdf

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-4hMRMWIbYmp/p_158XA5400E/Sony-ES-SCD-XA5400ES.html

https://www.stereophile.com/content/music-round-36-page-2

https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/audio-player/sacd-players/sony-scd-xa5400es-player/

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sony-sacd-player-scd-xa5400es-yay-or-nay

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/better-cd-sound-the-search

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sacd-players-models-with-dsd-processor-used-and-new-not-dsd-conver

 

If you're worried about life-expectancy with your current CD player, get an Onkyo C-7030.  It's inexpensive and arguably the best CD player on the market today.  Also works well as a transport.

Haven’t heard the Onkyo and it may well be the best cd player on the market - but at its price range not overall

I find the Onkyo to be incredibly transparent and a little more forward sounding, the marantz a little more fuller and warmer. With the return policy of some online dealers you can try both which is what I would do. You will use this player for another 10 years, get the one that best suits your system. The Marantz is 30% off here:

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marcd60blk-rb/marantz-marantz-cd60-single-disc-cd-player-w/usb/1.html