Are there any CD Players under $500US worth considering....

The affordable Cambridge series of players is well regarded and able to satisfy the most discerning of Naimies.

If you've completely abandoned CD, I'd probably just go for this silvery Sony everyone's ranting about.

Micromega Stage 6, originally $1500 very full sound great voicing, PR&T not the last word, but adequate. Should be available for $200 or so. downside is that the early iterations, the Stage 1,2 & 3s, had some quality control problems.

A love or hate machine , in fact. I loved mine, but a CDX is a lot better ...

Peter

A CDX is better than most things mate.

Despite all the hatred it plays music. Wish it was a 'bit' faster tho'..

Rotel cdps can sound pretty good if you get the right model

Mike Sae:

Thanks for the heads up on the Sony CDP. I probably picked up the last one in Canada last night for $185Cdn. It's shocking how good it is! It doesn't have the digital edge to it, only slightly thinner sounding than the CDS1. It actually even provides good decay of notes making it very musical.

Has the technology improved that much over the last few years or is my 52 making this cheap CDP sparkle? It would be interesting comparing my Sony CDP/52/Super to a CDS2/72 or whatever combination is comparable in price. I think the first combination would be better!

John

Wrong.

GIGO, Source first and all that. A CDS2/72 is substantially better than a Rotel/NAD/Sony/whatever into a 52. I've tried it, and the (vastly) superior source rules the day.

Best,

Bob

This Sony does have some magic musically. It's not perfect by any means but I was expecting it to lack the note decay which makes the music lifeless and mechanical and the digital glare. It's still just a CDP but so is the CDS2! It only cost me $185Cdn and a CDS2 costs what $17,000Cdn+!

The only problem with it so far is I can't have it connected to my preamp when I listen to vinyl. It makes my vinyl or should I say my 52 sound bad when it's connected. I assume this a ground loop issue. Is there any way to resolve this? It would be nice to have it continually connected.

S Armstrong, go to any Sony store they can search for the product anywhere in Canada.

John

Try a Rotel 965 BX Discrete. You should be able to pick one up on Ebay for £100. You wont beleive its not a turntable. A few months ago I listened to a Rega Planet but did not think it was as good as the Rotel.

Fatcat