CD Player advice needed!

[admin_exported]

Right I am currently running my stereo set-up as Pioneer BDP-LX91 to a Yamaha DSP-Z7 via a Van Den Hul 'The wave' RCA (VDH Flat HDMI for movies) to Monitor Audio RS8's. Out of curiousity I have been looking at cd (possibly SACD too) player which may increase musicality. My Budget is £500-750. I love the look and solidality of the Yamaha CD-S1000/2000 but wondered if something like an Arcam CD17 is a safer bet. I will demo eventually but I wanted to know everyones experiences with these or similar players. I like detail but not at the expense of refinement!

Thanks

James

 

[Anonymous]

Is there no decent CD players to demo at £500-750 then?

 

[True Blue]

Yes, first on the Audition list would be a Rega Apollo, if your budget could stretch a further £100 or so or you dont mind ex dem then have a look at the Rega Saturn 🙂

However, neither do SACD

 

[Anonymous]

Problem with Rega is that they seem a bit flimsy from what I've seen. How do they sound sonically?

 

[True Blue]

Flimsy?? My Saturn is built like a brick and weighs 14.5lbs!! The Apollo is 8lbs.

Sonically I can only really speak on the Saturn, I did audition the Apollo and sonically it is very similar.

The Saturn has a"live performance" feel on recordings very rhythmic fantastic with vocals. Sounds organic not clinical like some CDP's very much so that it is like a good quality turntable sound. It allows the music to flow without hindering or adding anything to it.

Bass extension on the Saturn is way in advance of the Apollo as is the image it portrays. Music never lets up andallowsyou to concentrate on the music without analysing individual elements.

I was going to purchase the Naim Nait CD5i to go with my XS as it was better musically and had better synergy with the Naim amp, than the Apollo. The Saturn was slightly out of reach as it was retailing for around £1300. However due to recent price reallignments from Rega the player is now £898. It recieved fantastic reviews even at the £1300 mark.

 

[John Duncan]

If you can find one, a Marantz SA-7001KI would be a very good bet, covering SACD as well.

 

[Anonymous]

True Blue:
Flimsy?? My Saturn is built like a brick and weighs 14.5lbs!! The Apollo is 8lbs.

Sonically I can only really speak on the Saturn, I did audition the Apollo and sonically it is very similar.

The Saturn has a"live performance" feel on recordings very rhythmic fantastic with vocals. Sounds organic not clinical like some CDP's very much so that it is like a good quality turntable sound. It allows the music to flow without hindering or adding anything to it.

Bass extension on the Saturn is way in advance of the Apollo as is the image it portrays. Music never lets up andallowsyou to concentrate on the music without analysing individual elements.

I was going to purchase the Naim Nait CD5i to go with my XS as it was better musically and had better synergy with the Naim amp, than the Apollo. The Saturn was slightly out of reach as it was retailing for around £1300. However due to recent price reallignments from Rega the player is now £898. It recieved fantastic reviews even at the £1300 mark.

The Yamaha weigh 33lbs.... I'll see if I can demo the Rega Saturn too then, so RRP is now £898?

 

[True Blue]

Blimey is the yamaha's case made from lead???? yes £898 is the RRP

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:If you can find one, a Marantz SA-7001KI would be a very good bet, covering SACD as well.

Would that be second hand? What about the SA8003, is it worth demo'ing?

 

[John Duncan]

JTD:
JohnDuncan:If you can find one, a Marantz SA-7001KI would be a very good bet, covering SACD as well.

Would that be second hand? What about the SA8003, is it worth demo'ing?

Ah, that's why I couldn't find the Sa-7003, it doesn't exists

Any Marantz player within any given budget is worth investigating, yes - and if there's a KI variant, even more so.

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Any Marantz player within any given budget is worth investigating, yes - and if there's a KI variant, even more so.

Strange you should say that, Marantz lower priced CD players always sound hollow and lightweight to me...

Does no-one have experience of the Yamaha CD-S1000 or 2000?

 

[John Duncan]

JTD:Strange you should say that, Marantz lower priced CD players always sound hollow and lightweight to me...

To me too (I didn't like the 6002 combo), but they're always worth investigating against the competition as they'll always be there or thereabouts sonically. I loved the 7001 range, for example, but more so the amp than the player (SACD holds no interest for me).

 

[plarge]

I have heard the S2000 and it was sonically very good - if you like smooth, you'll love it! Doesn't bring attention to itself. Built like a tank too - and some good deals around on it at the moment The Rega Saturn sounds good, but I know what you mean about the build.. How about Naim CD5 i - would be more exciting than the Yama. Wouldn't touch Marantz unless higher priced (And better built) stuff....

There are also some good deals on the exposure 3000 around at the moment; lovely musical player. The cairn Tornado is also very exciting....

Paul

 

[the record spot]

JTD:
JohnDuncan:Any Marantz player within any given budget is worth investigating, yes - and if there's a KI variant, even more so.

Strange you should say that, Marantz lower priced CD players always sound hollow and lightweight to me...

Does no-one have experience of the Yamaha CD-S1000 or 2000?

The SA7001-KI JD refers to was the last of the KI branded players, Marantz now opting to drop the "KI" suffix, although Ken Ishiwata still has a major input into the product range (see the KI Pearls out recently, but £2,500 each). The 8003 is the descendant of the 7001KI. I can wholeheartedly recommend the latter player, had it for about 18 months now and it's truly magnificent. No qualms whatsoever - both SACD and CD are excellent.

That said, it's, not the bassiest machine out there, rather possessing an articulate and very nippy bass, which does realism more than it does out and out grunt. Don't partner it with bass-shy speakers or amps and you'll do fine. I could live with this player for a very long time and in the current set up it's all about the music, a system I could sit back with for hours on end (and have).

Incidentally, the Yamaha kit range is good too - and both players you mention also have SACD. If funds are limited, don't write off Onkyo's £350 SACD player, which Patrick Cleasby rates well in a recent review in Hi Fi World. WHFS&V rated it as a 3 star player, but partnered with the right gear, I'm sure the player has more potential than the review gave the Onkyo player and amp credit for.