CD Player suggestions

[13oots2]

Am in the market for a new CD player, my Cambridge Audio 640C doesn't respond to the remote any more, it's definitely the player not the remote.

My budget is up to £500 and would prefer CD text if at all possible, digital out is a must as I use a DAC I am quite fond of, would prefer it to be black to match the rest of my setup.

Suggestions on a postcard to the usual forum thread please.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

A few thoughts:
- Personally I went local streaming years ago, and wouldn't go back now, but that's just me
- For a Transport only, I seem to remember that CA do/did offer one. At least that would be brand new
- For a s/h transport, you're looking at units like the VRDS from Teac or the Meridian 500s as being considered pretty good. The issue being their age and whether you can still source a new laser unit if/when they fail
- Third option is just a decent CDP with a digital out. Again, Meridian make good players, but also consider units from Wadia, Esoteric and similar if you can find one on the cheap. They might be fairly old, but IMO, still sound utterly brill

 

[kitfit1]

If you are using a separate DAC your best option is to use a CD Transport, not a CD player. A CD Transport at £500 will be of a much higher quality than any CD player at the same price point.
As you already have the 640C another Cambridge Audio would be a good starting point. Unfortunately they don't sell the black version of the one linked below anymore but the grey one does blend well with black or silver setups.

Cambridge Audio CXC (Lunar Grey)

Shop for Cambridge Audio CXC Lunar Grey CD Transport with Richer Sounds for expert advice and lowest prices guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

 

[13oots2]

Thanks for the suggestions, will keep an eye out on the Bay for the Cambridge, CA have an outlet on there for refurbished products and they are a lot cheaper than new.

I am currently using my 640C as a transport, it still works but drives me bonkers not having the remote working, I just like to zone out at times and having the remote allows me to do that.

 

[hornetstinger]

Any results between digital out on CDP and CDT to compare?

 

[Jamauk]

I never realised CD Text was still a thing, it was years ago I had a Sony CD player and only a few CD's with text.

My CD player suggestion, it's one I personally use, is a Tag McLaren CD20R. They're lesser known and can be had at quite a decent price in either black or silver, also it's transport only (My DAC is a Tag DAC20). As for remotes, they often have one included, I use mine with an Audiolab remote as it also works with my Marantz amp. No CD text, I just read the track listing on the case.

Another old Hi-Fi suggestion, this time from Arcam, the Alpha 5 CD.

Both sound fantastic. Obviously both old and can be had for well under budget.

 

[ramdrive]

Audiolab do a nice transport:-

6000CDT

The 6000CDT is a dedicated CD transport incorporating the same slot-loading mechanism as audiolab’s flagship CD player, the 8300CD. Extremely robust and reliable, it uses a read-ahead digital buffer to reduce disc-reading failures, able to play scratched and damaged CDs that are unreadable by...

www.audiolab.co.uk