New CD player

So, the old Pioneer PD75 finally died after a lingering illness, (don’t laugh, it was ok in its day) and it’s time for a new CD player.

I have LP12/Ittok/Karma/ NAT03/32.5/Hicap/250/Epos ES14, so I suppose the obvious candidate, on reputation anyway because I haven't heard one, would be a CD5. Problem is they cost around $5k here in Oz & I don't have a lazy five lying around at the moment to splash out.

While I was considering my sad dilemma a local (non Naim) dealer kindly loaned me a Planet 2000 to try. The Planet really surprised me, I didn't realise how good they are. But then I’ve been out of the loop for a while, the last piece of hi-fi I bought was a black snaic & even then I wasn’t looking at CD players.

Encouraged by the Planet, a couple of days ago I gave it back and borrowed a Jupiter. It was brand new, straight out of the box, so it's just sitting on an Audiotech table spinning to itself at the moment. I've had a couple of sneaky listens and it sounds good already, more refined and spacious than the Planet but if memory serves, not near as punchy as the Naim CD3 I heard a couple of years ago. Refined and spacious could be OK though, seeing my tastes these days include a fair bit of chamber music & solo piano (which the Planet does amazingly well). I like the look of the Regas too.

Second hand could be an option but used Naims aren't exactly thick on the ground here. The only possibility I can find at the moment is a used CD3.5 for $3k, which is more than the price of a new Jupiter.

You may think that if I can afford to think about a Jupiter I should just go and get the CD5, but it ain't that simple. Here, the Jupiter costs only a bit more than half the price of the Naim. Something of a disparity I feel, given that the price difference in their home market is what, 15-20%? Either the Naim has too many greedy middlemen on the way to Oz or the Rega is an extraordinary bargain. Probably a bit of both I suspect. Having said that, I realise that Naim gear is good value at almost any price because it does the job and lasts practically forever. (I've had my 250 since 1982).

It does make my decision harder though. Is the CD5 twice as good as the Jupiter? Somehow I doubt it.
The question is probably academic anyway, because I seriously doubt that I would fork over that much for any drink coaster spinner, even if it did the washing and got me a beer from the fridge.

I know that the Rega/Naim issue has already received a bit of a flogging on the Forum, having followed every step of Nuno's tortuous path (and a few others) so I'll get to the point.

Another (Naim) dealer strongly recommends the Rotel CDP1070 as a lower priced alternative. There are apparently none of these around at the moment to audition and won't be for a couple of weeks until the next shipment arrives. Anybody heard one? Any other suggestions?

My own experience with Rotel has been less than thrilling. I tried the then highly rated 965BX in my system a few years ago and thought it may just possibly make a passable paperweight.

I tend to buy hi-fi for the long haul, so I don't want to stuff this up. I'll know more about the Jupiter in a few days, but it does look the best option at the moment. Maybe even a Planet would do.

BTW, I went to see Joe Cocker last night here in Newcastle. What a legend the man is, he’s lost none of his vocal power over the years. A truly great show, best I've seen for years. I came home and played Joe records until 3am.