Hehe...Jagat....I have auditioned all Marantz line of CDPs. CD5001, CD5400, CD7300 and the CC4300!!!! And also the cambridge audio 640C and 540C v2 and a couple of Denon high ends too. However, it is difficult to say as to which one is better unless u get to see all of them at one place.
Needless to say, CD7300 had been the best n the most robust of all i have seen so far. Its build quality is rock solid and uses n excellant DAC. It can play MP3s as well as unfinalized disks too. The best part i noticed on all Marantz players was that their grip on the CD is so well, that even if u keep drop the player few inches above the ground, the cds wont skip at all! The only player that goes near to its performance (as per the review) is Cambridge's new dual differntial 640C v2 which i m waiting to see at Prithvi's place. Ofcourse Arcam & Primare are supposed to be better but only if Veeru n his pals decide to drop some grands on its price tag!
However, the source has to be extremely important, as i have seen the difference in sound by switching between these marantz machines. The better the DAC, the better the quality of sound, smoothness and the detailing gets.
The NAD has some disc compatibility issues, and build quality is an issue. i m eager to see that. and ofcourse if u happen to go to mumbai, plz dont miss on the rotels. All these come about similar price with the CD7300 slightly expensive. Not as much as it used to be as this model is now getting manufactured at China too, for we not so luck indian dudes or shud i say audiophiles??? if u want the Jap made, then get somebdy to get one for u from UK and one for me too!!! never mind.
Conclusion - I would rate the CDPs as 7300>5400>5001>4300. I will not comapare them with Cambridge and NAD unless i get the same platform to audition all of them one by one. Pretty hard naa? What to do!!!
Cheers!!!