New CD Player - Next Part of Upgrade

[Jason36]

Hi guys,

Having just bought the Marantz PM6003 (which I am mightly impressed with), it was always the plan to upgrade my 14 year old CD Player at the end of this month / beggining of June.......

Obvious choice would be the Marantz CD6003, however just wondering if there is anything out there that would partner the amp just as well if not better. I have up to £550.00 to spend on the source but not sure whether spending that would give me any gains with the £300 amp?

Musical tastes are eclectic and cover everything except Opera, Classical and Heavy Metal.

Any ideas / sugesstion on other CDP's I should short list and listen to?

 

[d_a_n1979]

I think for your budget the obvious options would be:

Marantz 6003
NAD C545BEE
Rega Apollo

If you're prepared to go down the 2nd hand route then maybe the likes of the Arcam CD192 or a Cyrus 6SE CDP would be worth looking at as well

Are you able to demo at all; if so do you think you'll be able to use your own speakers and amp (or maybe a home trial)?

It also may be worth while in looking at changing your speaker cable and interconnects as well; more so with the budget limit you've got!

 

[Jason36]

Hi d_a_n1979,

I wouldnt be worried about 2nd hand if I could get a better deal.

and yes I would be looking to demo wherever possible.

Interconnects and speaker cable are options as well........Although I would leave them as they are for the time being until any new CD player had burnt in...again I can get cables on home demo if required. Also the next upgrade would be speakers after the CD so wouldnt change speaker cable until I knew what speakers I was going for.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Jason36:
Hi d_a_n1979,

I wouldnt be worried about 2nd hand if I could get a better deal.

and yes I would be looking to demo wherever possible.

Interconnects and speaker cable are options as well........Although I would leave them as they are for the time being until any new CD player had burnt in...again I can get cables on home demo if required. Also the next upgrade would be speakers after the CD so wouldnt change speaker cable until I knew what speakers I was going for.

Fair enough; hadnt realised you were aiming to upgrade your speakers as well.

I deffo think the above CDP's would be the way to go; the Rega Apollo can be used on a home demo (I'm receiving one tomorrow via Synergy AV in Cheshire

)

As for 2nd hand; keep your eyes on eBay

 

[d_a_n1979]

These would be worth watching:

Arcam

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARCAM-DIVA-CD92-PLAYER-WITH-HDCD-AND-TEXT-/320533754141?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparates&hash=item4aa14cf11d

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arcam-Diva-CD192-CD-Player-EXCELLENT-/150444970602?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparates&hash=item230738126a

Cyrus

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cyrus-CD6-SE-CD-PLayer-/140406753691?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparates&hash=item20b0e5099b

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cyrus-CD6-SE-CD-Player-New-2010-Edition-Black-/160433396089?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparates&hash=item255a935979

Rega

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REGA-APOLLO-CD-PLAYER-BLACK-SATIN-HIFI-SEP-EXC-COND-/190395662106?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparates&hash=item2c54773f1a

Audiolab

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audiolab-8000CD-MKII-BLACK-BNIB-/350354979475?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparates&hash=item5192c8ba93

 

[plastic penguin]

Arcam FMJ CD17. The new range is pretty uninspiring, but the 17 is the best from the entry-level bunch. Also, if you can get hold of a s/hand Roksan Kandy MKIII or Exposure 2010S.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Good call on the Roksan but IMO I'd leave the Arcam CD17 well alone

Listened to it a fair bit with different systems and it sounded too mellow and lacking... May have been because it was new but it had been on 24hrs solid... Just sounded light weight!

 

[the record spot]

Check out the Marantz SA7003, the Exposure CD (see Emporium Hi Fi's Ebay store - £350), there's a Linn Genki on Ebay for £495...just a few thoughts to point you in some alternative directions...

 

[csq2]

If electric is your thing, then consider a cambridge audio cd player.

 

[Jason36]

What would a Musical Fidelity A5 CDP sound like with the Marantz? Bit of an overkill for the amp?

One on Ebay at a very good price.....Ive heard one of these and really like the sound of it, but not sure if it would be pointless with my current amp?

 

[d_a_n1979]

IMO it'd sound very good but I agree that it's a bit OTT...

I really think you should demo Marantz's CDP as it'll gel very well with your amp and system (although do you have an idea of when you may upgrade your speakers and if so; what to)?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Jason36:
Hi d_a_n1979,

I wouldnt be worried about 2nd hand if I could get a better deal.

and yes I would be looking to demo wherever possible.

Interconnects and speaker cable are options as well........Although I would leave them as they are for the time being until any new CD player had burnt in...again I can get cables on home demo if required. Also the next upgrade would be speakers after the CD so wouldnt change speaker cable until I knew what speakers I was going for.

I would go for the Arcam CD192 for that money - but then I would start thinking that the amp could be improved.

 

[drummerman]

Probably something like a DacMagic or the like. Adds versatility.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, +1 for the Dacmagic or similar.

 

[Jason36]

d_a_n1979:IMO it'd sound very good but I agree that it's a bit OTT... I really think you should demo Marantz's CDP as it'll gel very well with your amp and system (although do you have an idea of when you may upgrade your speakers and if so; what to)?

Yeah thanks....I think I may need to upgrade the Amp very quickly again with the MF A5.

I woukld like to demo the CD6003 and also the SA7003 which is also a good price....the other option would be the 2nd hand CD192.

As for speakers that is likely to be about another month to 2 months and I was potentially looking at the MA Silver RX6.....my hifi shop as advised the Marantz will cope with these....but will probably be open to suggestions again at that time.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Hmmm...

The Marantz will cope with the M/A RX6's yes but IMO they dont gel as well with M/A as Arcam, NAD and Rotel do.

The M/A sound is quite neutral but slightly forward at times (contradictory I know) whereas the arantz amp is fairly laid back.

The minimum amp for the RX6's IMO would have to be the likes of the Rotel RA05SE or the NAD C326BEE

If you did go for the Arcam CD192 then I think the likes of a 2nd hand Arcam FMJ A32 or DiVA A85 integrated amp would be a superb route to go down

If you went for a new amp then the likes of the Rotel RA06SE, Rotel RA1520, NAD C355BEE, Creek Evo II, Roksan Kandy K2 or even the Arcam FMJ A28 would be a much better fit.

 

[Cutlass]

Tom Tom Audio (tomtomaudio.com) have 3 'pre loved' Naim CD5i CD players for under £500. Well worth a listen.

 

[jockey.wilson]

I would save up another £150 and try to get last years Cyrus CD 6SE new. The SE players really are sonically at the forefront of whats available for normal money at the moment, Naim included. I have owned/currently own both.

It doesn't matter what level you think your amp/speakers are sitting, a good source will bring you the best real musical benefits, without throwing your system into imbalance, plus you then have a degree of future proofing if further funds pernit.

I say spend as much on the source as you can: GIGO - garabge in garbage out.