Impossible Task? One Box

[matthewpianist]

Sorry, but... the Tangent CD doesn't do gapless playback, and the Ruark one is specifically for their own systems. If you go down the compact CD player route, Project is the safest bet.

 

[DCarmi]

Sorry, but... the Tangent CD doesn't do gapless playback, and the Ruark one is specifically for their own systems. If you go down the compact CD player route, Project is the safest bet.

I have the Pro-Ject CD E. It sounds good and looks well built. However, I find the mechanism to be an abomination. Often it takes me more than one go to load a CD. When it fails to load a CD, I have to power off and power back on whereby it offers me a small edge to grab hold of the CD.

 

[Dave_]

Plus the boxes needed to rip files to a USB.....
🙂

You could always have the likes of Ripcaster do it for you, if you don't mind the expense...

Though probably cheaper than a CDP unless you've thousands of CDs to rip.

 

[matthewpianist]

I have the Pro-Ject CD E. It sounds good and looks well built. However, I find the mechanism to be an abomination. Often it takes me more than one go to load a CD. When it fails to load a CD, I have to power off and power back on whereby it offers me a small edge to grab hold of the CD.

I've just got one (today), following a positive experience my dad has had with it. Have you spoken to the dealer?

 

[matthewpianist]

I've just got one (today), following a positive experience my dad has had with it. Have you spoken to the dealer?

Mine is now going back for a refund.

 

[Jasonovich]

Mine is now going back for a refund.

Ah that's a shame, have you got a replacement in mind?

 

[matthewpianist]

Ah that's a shame, have you got a replacement in mind?

Not yet, I'll be falling back on my NAD for now. I want something half-width, but there's not much out there without getting into silly money. Times like this, I wish I'd kept my Apollo-R, but they're expensive second hand, and they don't make new ones anymore.

 

[Jasonovich]

Not yet, I'll be falling back on my NAD for now. I want something half-width, but there's not much out there without getting into silly money. Times like this, I wish I'd kept my Apollo-R, but they're expensive second hand, and they don't make new ones anymore.

Shanling make them small, the CD80 is sensible (ish) price £339.99. I was considering the ET3 model then I saw what they were charging, if I come across second hand on eBay I might consider 🙂

Shanling CD80 CD Player (Black) : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Buy Shanling CD80 CD Player (Black). Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[matthewpianist]

Shanling make them small, the CD80 is sensible (ish) price £339.99. I was considering the ET3 model then I saw what they were charging, if I come across second hand on eBay I might consider 🙂

Shanling CD80 CD Player (Black) : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Buy Shanling CD80 CD Player (Black). Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

View attachment 9826

I saw that. Bit of an unknown quantity though...

 

[Jasonovich]

I saw that. Bit of an unknown quantity though...

I hear you and right to be cautious.

They've been around for sometime. Not as well known as Eversolo and hasn't as yet broken into the UK market - another one to look out for is Cayin, quality brand also from China but equally expensive.
The CD80 are using Phillips CD mechanism and quality components throughout. I suspect, it's miles better than the Project. SMSL also has similar - top loader, not sure how much they're charging.

There's a lot of positive reviews on YT, if you're considering, worth doing the due diligence.

It is on Amazon, if you're not happy you can always return 🙂

 

[James105]

I saw that. Bit of an unknown quantity though...

Creek do a half width one CD4040 but its £699

 

[matthewpianist]

There was talk of Mission doing one to match the amp, and they even showed one at High End Munich or somewhere last year, but it hasn't surfaced as yet, so who knows whether it ever will. That would essentially be an Audiolab CDT in half-width so good, but still more than I want to shell out TBH.

 

[jjbomber]

Shanling make them small, the CD80 is sensible (ish) price £339.99. I was considering the ET3 model then I saw what they were charging, if I come across second hand on eBay I might consider 🙂

Shanling CD80 CD Player (Black) : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Buy Shanling CD80 CD Player (Black). Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

I'd go for one of these:

IOTAVX NP3 network CD player - HifiPilot, 434,00 €

The NP3 network player combines all the important source devices - streamer, CD player, DAB+ & FM radio and numerous other connections.

iotavx.com

 

[Jasonovich]

I'd go for one of these:

IOTAVX NP3 network CD player - HifiPilot, 434,00 €

The NP3 network player combines all the important source devices - streamer, CD player, DAB+ & FM radio and numerous other connections.

iotavx.com

Very nice. I have heard of them. Looks quality 👍

 

[jjbomber]

Very nice. I have heard of them. Looks quality 👍

I have the IOTAVX AVXP 7-230. Brilliant surround sound power amp, fed from the Oppo. For when I want to annoy the neighbours!

 

[Jasonovich]

I have the IOTAVX AVXP 7-230. Brilliant surround sound power amp, fed from the Oppo. For when I want to annoy the neighbours!

Neighbourly love is over rated. Ha ha ha!

 

[gasolin]

Not half width but say as the first gapless playback



Cambridge Audio EVO expensive not full width 31,7 x 35,2 x 8,9 cm

​

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi,

First time posting so please excuse my ignorance if this has been asked before.

I'm currently looking for a 1 box solution ideally, to improve my Hifi experience. I'm currently running a Pro-Ject TT through a Rega Fono Mini into a Sonos ERA100. This is so that I can play music from TT in that room only or through the whole house as I have Sonos in 2 other rooms.

My wife doesn't like a lot of wires and and reducing the amount of components in the system will reduce this. My Budget is about £1000 for new components so I've been looking at the Technic's SA-600, Eversolo Play CD. I would still be getting a Sonos port so that I can connect to the rest of my system. As well as collecting vinyl I still have a lot of CD's mainly rock, metal & hip hop, hence why choosing the 2 mentioned earlier.

Is there any better solutions that I haven't thought of? Wiim ultra amp (but doesn't have a CD player). I haven't chosen speakers to go in the room where the TT is, but it's not a big room at 3.5m x 3.5m so would be bookshelf speakers. Once I know the amp for the speakers I can then go and demo.

Any help on suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Not a one box solution, but avoiding the need for a CD player, is the system near your TV, and do you have a blu-ray player? If you do, use it a transport, optical out into your amps DAC.

 

[RoA]

Not sure how we ended up with multiple boxes when the OP wants an all-in-one 🙂

If the OP is not set on new he could also look at something like a MF M6 Encore 225. Available for under a grand.

 

[jjbomber]

Not sure how we ended up with multiple boxes when the OP wants an all-in-one 🙂

This is how the forum has always worked. And always will.

 

[TomLewis17]

Not a one box solution, but avoiding the need for a CD player, is the system near your TV, and do you have a blu-ray player? If you do, use it a transport, optical out into your amps DAC.

No, the TV is in the next room with a Blu-Ray player and Sonos Arc Ultra.

 

[TomLewis17]

I didn't manage to get to Richer Sounds due to a hungover wife. 😆

I then read this yesterday

This feature-laden, smartly designed compact streaming amp is a joy to use, but is let down by disappointing sound quality

Great features and design, shame about the sound

www.whathifi.com

Still looking at new.

For the CD player option I did see Cheap Audio Man recommend the SMSL PL100.

When I was looking at the separates route I was looking at the Mission components due to being more compact. My TT I demoed with the 778 Amp.

 

[Jasonovich]

I didn't manage to get to Richer Sounds due to a hungover wife. 😆

I then read this yesterday

This feature-laden, smartly designed compact streaming amp is a joy to use, but is let down by disappointing sound quality

Great features and design, shame about the sound

www.whathifi.com

Still looking at new.

For the CD player option I did see Cheap Audio Man recommend the SMSL PL100.

When I was looking at the separates route I was looking at the Mission components due to being more compact. My TT I demoed with the 778 Amp.

I really wouldn't put too much credence to WHF reviews, they operate within their own bubble.
Other credited reviewers have given the Play the thumbs up. The only requirement for those is matching them up with the right pair of speakers.

Turan a little smug at times but he is a mighty fine reviewer, he's analytical and thorough with his reviews.

View: https://youtu.be/Db4TvSO5GLY?si=j4SOvY4xUIh9mOZJ

 

[TomLewis17]

I really wouldn't put too much credence to WHF reviews, they operate within their own bubble.
Other credited reviewers have given the Play the thumbs up. The only requirement for those is matching them up with the right pair of speakers.

Turan a little smug at times but he is a mighty fine reviewer, he's analytical and thorough with his reviews.

View: https://youtu.be/Db4TvSO5GLY?si=j4SOvY4xUIh9mOZJ

What I keep seeing on the forum's is to trust your own ears. Only you can hear (or not) musical nuances between different configurations of hifi components.

 

[Jasonovich]

What I keep seeing on the forum's is to trust your own ears. Only you can hear (or not) musical nuances between different configurations of hifi components.

Yeah absolutely.

Reviews are just helping you put the pieces together. Best to hear all the reviews good ones and bad ones. Some are disingenuous because there are embedded loyalties and sponsorships and others can be more honest but less thorough.

I would say trusting your ears should have preference over measurements on a graph.
Though, there are some people on this forum who will tell you measurements don't lie, the great sound you're hearing is due to a phenomenon known as placebo.

I think the best way forward, if you have the opportunity, go to your dealer and ask him/her to demo the product.

Hifi is like an onion, too many layers! 🙂