Question New CD Player next week, can’t decide?

[WayneHarris]

Hi

About to pay out for a new CD player, it’s gonna be a choice for me out of a Marantz CD6007 and a Denon DCD-900

Which would you go for ?
Kind of leaning towards the Marantz because of its dedicated headphone out, though keep hearing it’s very clinical sounding ?

My Max budget is £450 and no more

Best disc tray mechanism ?
Best sounding?
Lowest noise floor?

I’ve got a buyer for my Marantz CD63 MkII KI Signature CD Player which I’ve owned since 1997

The current CD63 CD player is going straight into my Denon AVR-X4700 via optical and RCA, I can switch between each on the AV receiver

Wanted to upgrade as I quite fancy the USB option on the front of it and wanted someat more up to date

I could actually get a Marantz CD60 or a Denon DCD-1700NE for an amazing price but dunno much about the company here in the UK called “Hyperfi” they seem to sell B Stock items

take a risk or avoid below?

https://www.hyperfi.co.uk/hifi-separates/denon-dcd-1700ne-cd-player-dcd1700ne-silver

https://www.hyperfi.co.uk/hifi-separates/marantz-cd60-cd-player-silver-ksk82

annoying this is I have some SACD’s! but use my Pioneer BDP-180 to play them my Denon AVR-X4700

 

[SteveH72]

I don’t think there will be of a difference at all. I suspect you may find the Marantz a little warmer and the Denon more neutral, but I think the differences will be minimal.
Marantz are legends at the cd player game so that’s a very safe bet.
The higher tier Denon and Marantz will be better players but Hyperfi’s website contains a lot of click bait, with little availability.
Can you audition?

 

[WayneHarris]

I don’t think there will be of a difference at all. I suspect you may find the Marantz a little warmer and the Denon more neutral, but I think the differences will be minimal.
Marantz are legends at the cd player game so that’s a very safe bet.
The higher tier Denon and Marantz will be better players but Hyperfi’s website contains a lot of click bait, with little availability.
Can you audition?

Can maybe go to richer sounds, but how can I audition each player if I can’t replicate my setup at home,

 

[record_spot]

Not to rain on your parade, which of course means I'm just about to (!), I'd hold hard on the cash splash and have a bit of a think.

I can understand you wanting to get rid of the 63-KI - I had one some years ago and found it bloated in the bass. The later SA-7001KI was far better. Greater balance and less boom . I totally get that in what, 1992, the 63-KI was quite the thing - it probably suited much of the music of the day to a degree. Nirvana, The Orb, Prodigy, et al.

I bought one in mint condition from a lady in Edinburgh who worked on the rigs. As it happened, I was in Edinburgh too at the time - my home town - and snapped it up. I've had a few Marantz KI items, but the 63 left me a little cold.

As for your two options (why just those two?)....why just those two? (!).

If it was my money, and I'm a canny buyer, I'd hold back for now, have a look at what's available from reputable dealers - do an Ebay search for CD players and look around. The ones that'll do you a return guarantee - Fanthorpes, Cambridge, etc, plenty do it. You've got more options than the two you mentioned and at £450 max, you'll get something worth laying out the hard earned.

My own personal hobby is older players, though I appreciate buyers may want the security of buying new - do that online (right of return, etc.). Sony, Philips, Pioneer - there's a whole bunch out there that you probably never considered because they're brand names, yet - certainly with Sony and Pioneer - you've got some of the earliest developers of the format.

I've no doubt either of the players you mentioned will be fine. Others though may be better and more desirable - but that's just my personal preferences talking!

 

[Messiah]

Hyperfi’s website contains a lot of click bait, with little availability.

This is true.

If you want to know what they actually have in stock use their eBay page - Hyperworld.

If you do decide to buy from them though, their main website is cheaper.

 

[Messiah]

Kind of leaning towards the Marantz because of its dedicated headphone out.

The Denon receiver has a headphone socket on the front.

The current CD63 CD player is going straight into my Denon AVR-X4700 via optical and RCA, I can switch between each on the AV receiver.

Do you notice any difference in sound between the 2 methods?

Wanted to upgrade as I quite fancy the USB option on the front of it.

The Denon receiver also has a USB input on the front.

I have some SACD’s! but use my Pioneer BDP-180 to play them my Denon AVR-X4700

If you play CDs on this do you notice any difference in sound comparing the same CDs on the Marantz CD player?

I think that your answers to some of these questions will really help decide if a new CD player would make much difference.

Personally I use the Marantz CD6007 with my Denon receiver although I got it primarily to replace an aging Kenwood CD player and to match my Marantz PM7000N amp - which it will be used with at a later date.