Which CD Player at 50k?

[Viki]

Hi all,

In keeping with my own 10/20/30/40 system (i.e. 10% on cables, 20% on source, 30% on amp, 40% on speakers), I am looking for an upgrade to my CD player. At present I use a Marantz CD 5001, which I think may be the weak link. My requirements:

1. Pair with my Krell Integrated KAV300i and ProAc Studio 140's.
2. Room size 20 x 15 feet, roughly, as its an odd shaped room
3. Music choice is mostly classic rock - floyd, led zepp, u2, but also sinead, diana krall etc.
4. Should be black (all my stuff is black)
5. Budget of 50K, can be a Singapore buy

I have heard and considering:
Marantz KI Pearl Lite CD
Arcam CD 37
Audiolab 8200 (no black finsh available)

Any others I should be looking at?

I really like the Pearl Lite, as I also use Marantz gear for HT, so would match in the rack. However,just would like to check with all the big guys like Venkat, Shanti, Dinyaar, Ajay etc. if I'm missing something significantly better at that price.

Please comment, either here or by PM.

Thanks,

Vikram

 

[spirovious]

There is already similar thread-
http://www.hifivision.com/cd-players/15955-cd-player-around-rs-50k.html

 

[Viki]

Sorry, didn't search first. Off I go to the other thread, then.
Thanks, Spiro.

EDIT: Hmm, not much there.

 

[jls001]

Consider Jolida JD-100S from Ocean Sound Pune (don't know price), and Raysonic CD-128 from Nova Audio Mumbai (60-70K I think).
Joshua

 

[venk61176]

Having traded similar lines I suggest try Wyredsound DAC as it uses next generation ESS Sabre, it will also enable you to playback computer music as well as increase quality of sound out of your marantz player.

on the other hand you can also try music fidelity DAC or Rega DAC. Slowly overtime may be you can get Music fidelity CD transport if you like

Right now investing heavily in CD player doesnt seem that viable choice as 320 VBR of mp3 or Flac seem to produce much better sound through quality DAC



Thanks
Venkat

 

[abhijit15]

Marantz pearl lite is in ur budget as well but you can try ATOLL cd200, but dont go for Audiolab of wharfedale . marantz is better from that cd8200 and Atoll is Crystal clear

 

[deepakgang]

How about CA Azur 840c ..

http://dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=139



Review Cambridge Audio Azur 840C - CD/Media-players

lot of reviews in our forum as well

 

[abhijit15]

and what about Rega apollo?

 

[srramanujam]

I bought CA 840C for a bit above your budget, and so far happy with how it sounds.

Regards

 

[abhijit15]

i am confuse between Rega Apollo,Atoll CD200 and Marantz Pearl Lite,
rega i didnt heard yet but Atoll is very detail .

 

[SatSon]

Hello, I am pretty new to the forum and an audio enthusiast. One quick question, what is the significance/peculiarity of costly cd players like marantz CD5004, when we can get SONY cd/dvd players for around 4k?

 

[hydra]

Welcome to the forum, SatSon!

You'll find the answer to your question here: http://www.hifivision.com/cd-players/15136-cd-player-really-better-than-dvdp-stereo-music.html

 

[venkatcr]

I really like the Pearl Lite, as I also use Marantz gear for HT, so would match in the rack. However,just would like to check with all the big guys like Venkat, Shanti, Dinyaar, Ajay etc. if I'm missing something significantly better at that price.

I would suggest that you seriously consider an Audio PC. In my opinion, a PC with something like a Asus Xonar STX or a @Juli sound card will beat the pants off a CDP upto 1 lakh easily. And a CD player in PC costs just Rs.1250/=. If you are worried about the drive getting worn out or something, just replace it every six months.!!

Cheers

 

[pdhanwada]

I do agree with venkatcr. You can very well consider squeezebox touch which itself has a good dac or an external dac added to it will do a great job.

More often than not the recording quality has more impact than any of the equipment except for speakers and amp.

How much ever you spend on the cd player, As we mostly see not so greatly recorded source, the quality of the cd player may become immaterial.

Another important factor is the ease of access.

I have converted all my cds into flacs. I can access any song from 2500songs from hard disk any time. I dont see this happenning thru cd player.

Thanks
Pandu

 

[ajay124]

Viki
You have a good amp and speakers. A better source will really do wonders for your system. My recommendations based on personal experience, about how to spend your 50K:
Squeezebox Touch/16.5K
WD My Book Essentials 1TB/3.5K
Emerson Liebert GT MT+ UPS 3kva/28K
Dedicated 4 mm power cables to multiple power sockets behind the audio rack/2K

It is possible that folks with less powerful amps may find the Touch lean sounding, but your Krell will add the body and heft required to make the SB Touch a true blue audiophile product. Dac? Not needed!

If the miniscule size of the Touch deters you from buying it, then you can look for a bigger more 'audiophile' looking box. But you would need to sacrifice the Emerson UPS to stay within your budget. Arcam CD17 and Rega Apollo both around 50K would be the best options.

 

[sonosphere]

Viki
...
Squeezebox Touch/16.5K
... Arcam CD17 and Rega Apollo both around 50K would be the best options.

Hi Ajay,
I understand that Viki is trying to improve the weak link (source) in his system. I've heard the Arcam CD17 and Viki's Marantz 5001, but not the SB Touch. I found treble-end sparkle better in that Marantz, but coming to "overall SQ" I found Arcam CD17 a step ahead than Marantz ... Do you think that SB Touch is also a step ahead than Marantz?

Regds,

 

[manoj.p]

Hello, I am pretty new to the forum and an audio enthusiast. One quick question, what is the significance/peculiarity of costly cd players like marantz CD5004, when we can get SONY cd/dvd players for around 4k?

Given that the transports are same, the difference between DVD player vs a good CD player is in the DAC. Costly CD players generally have better DAC chips (also called analog section) compared to mass market DVD players. If you use Digital connection output from both the players, then there is no difference.

About the interference, it does not happen at Digital stage, only in analog stage. If the player does not have good DAC chips, avoid the analog out from it and stick with digital out to an external DAC/DSP/audio receiver.

 

[Asit]

Having traded similar lines I suggest try Wyredsound DAC as it uses next generation ESS Sabre, it will also enable you to playback computer music as well as increase quality of sound out of your marantz player.

Hi Venkat,

Do you have a wyred4sound DAC? Or have you listened to it? Which one DAC1 or DAC2? If you have any experience with either, please write briefly about your impression.

Regards.

 

[harryhyden]

Burmester 50K CD Player in my knowledge

 

[venk61176]

Asit sir,

I have not listened to them yet, with 32 bit DAC wyred4sound and easterelectric mini max are getting good reviews.

Eastern electric is also coming up with new version of DAC with an USB interface,

Awaiting its reviews before I decide on one of them

Thanks
Venkat