gallego1968:
I need to get a new cd player as my one is on it`s way out. At the moment i have a Marantz 63SE which has been brilliant for the last 14 years.
I would like to buy the equvilante quality ans sound modern version. Which one would you guy`s recommend.
I was looking at the Marantz CD6002 as it has a great review but is it as good as my old one.
Hi,
I tried many cd players when trying to replace my Marantz cd63se - it took me over 12 months to find a replacement, here are my findings. Most cd players added a little more detail and a refinement but I found most were not as musically rewarding - the midrange on the old marantz is still quite impressive and musical. The Marantz cd63se was around 350 pounds and i think you would have to pay at least as much or significantly more to better it.
I tried the Marantz cd7001 more detailed but not as natural sounding especially the mids, the Nad c542 was nice and warm but lacked the marantz top end sparkle, the arcam cd73t (bigger soundstage) but was to warm on my system - lacked sparkle, the marantz cd6000 ose was to bright, the cambridge audio 640c v2 added detail and punch but was colder and more clinical than the marantz on certain music, the cambridge became fatigueing on certain types of music, the marantz cd5001 was to laid back, the marantz cd6002 was quite nice and detailed but still liked my old marantz better as it had more warmth in the mids.
The cd players I liked was the Creek Evo - musical, open sounding, quite nice; the Rega Apollo (beautiful top end, excellent detail, slightly lean character) lacks a little in bottom end clout. The one I bought was the consonance cd120 linear - the same musical mid band of the marantz with an extra dose of naturalness, but more detailed and open sounding, with a full bass and airy top end, a 3d soundstage, good timing. I must admit I still have my old marantz though
In the next price up the Naim 5i (very musical), the cyrus 6 (lean, detailed).
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Steve.