Multi-disc players vs CD players

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone

I'm currently thinking about purchasing a new CD player to match my Creek amp, but was also possibly considering a one-box multi-disc player such as the Cambridge Audio 650BD.

I'm mostly into music, but the price of the 650BD is really tempting - £399 (for a machine which plays practically every disc out there) vs £499 for the CD-only player from Creek.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the standard of music reproduction of multi-disc players? Obviously it might not be quite up to the standard of the Creek, but will I really be able to hear the difference between the two on an everyday basis?

Glad to hear your thoughts!

Oliver

 

[DandyCobalt]

Hi, I've been delighted with the 650BD for music (as well as SACD and blu-ray) but Cambridge have the higher spec version 751BD coming out very soon, that should be even better on the audio front. (there's a brief video review of the nuts and bolts from CES on this site). Many also rave about the Oppo as a multidisc player but haven't compared them myself.

 

[Anonymous]

That's good to hear - think I might stick to the 650BD as it's a lot cheaper and I'm not really into 3D. My other option apart from the Creek Evo CD player is the Audiolab 8200CD - it's been getting some amazing reviews.

Still undecided as to the real value of a standalone CD vs the 650BD - guess I'll have to try and arrange a demo.

 

[El Hefe]

Assuming you have 700 quid to burn as u r also thinking of Audiolab, why dont you buy the 650BD first. If you dont like the CD replay on it, you can add a DacMagic or Arcam rDAC at a later date.

 

[DandyCobalt]

I demo'd the Audiolab when I bought my CM5s - excellent sound, but I didn't head-to-head with my existing 650. The 650 has been very good, and as El Hefe has suggested, you can experiment with possibly better DACs later - the 650 has been flawless for me so far. Just played the Tom Petty Audio Blu-ray (!) of Damn The Torpedoes last night on it. PCM Stereo, or even DTS-HD Master Audio. You can't do that with an Audiolab 8200