CD player to compete with my vinyl rig?


Greetings,

I find that I have stopped buying CDs, which I regret because there is so much great new music out there.

My player is a Cambridge 640c and listening to it just doesn't do the 'suspension of disbelief' thing. It has all the right stuff: black backgrounds, dynamics, PRAT, detail, air, frequency extension, but as soon as the orchestral strings well up or the horns start, I want to turn it off. The timbral qualities are weird (especially massed strings, voices) and the sense of real people playing instruments isn't there. There's a sheen and confusion to the soundscape. My vinyl rig offers by far the more realistic experience. I have multiple copies of Mahler's 2nd Symphony on both CD and vinyl, and I never listen to the CDs any more.

I would like to find a CD player that makes me want to listen to CDs as much as vinyl!

I'm looking at reviews of the Rega Apollo R, the Teac PD H600, Audiolab 8200CD and the Decware Zen triode player. (Yes, around $1000 budget).

My rig: Pro-ject 2 Xperience/Shure V15-IV, Jico SAS, Cambridge 640c, Rogue Cronus Magnum/KT120 tubes, LS3/5a speakers, Kimber, Zu cabling.

Music tastes: Sibelius, Mahler, Bruckner, Bach, fifties torch singers.

I would love to hear suggestions from members!
Thanks
sumaato
With $1,000... you are not going to find even a used CD player that will compete.
Consider some Italian made players. A used Audia Flight Three and Northstar Sapphire can be found for $1k. Audio Analogue has the Crescendo for $895 new and several used models that would be around your price point.
05-08-12: Audiofreak32
" ...With $1,000... you are not going to find even a used CD player that will compete...."

Audiofreak32 nailed it.

If you move up the food chain to a better CDP kit into 5 figures pricewise (new) then CD will not only compete but also exceed.
Eastern Electric Minimax DAC-
Pick any half way decent transport or older cd player with a digital out and connect it up and enjoy. Some really prefer the SS output on it but I find that I like the tube output utilizing and RCA Cleartop.
I have an Ayon CD2s which im impressed with. maybe not as good as vinyl, but its very good.