Yamaha CD-S300 -- No reviews anywhere!!

[papi]

Hello!

This is my first post, so please be gentle...

I need a new cd player, and I'm considering the Yamaha CD-S300, but there are no "professional" reviews out there on the interwebs. Just some user reviews on retailer's sites.

This seems odd to me, as Yamaha is obviously not some obscure brand, and other components are reviewed widely, including on this website.

So can anyone help me? Has anyone heard this model? Can you tell me how it compares to the marantz 6004 (which I can't really afford)? Does anyone have a link to the secret website where the reviews are hidden?

Please help!

Thanks!

 

[Andy Clough]

We've tested the Yamaha CD-S700 and a couple of other models, but not the CD-S300 I'm afraid. Clickety

 

[BigH]

We've tested the Yamaha CD-S700 and a couple of other models, but not the CD-S300 I'm afraid. Clickety

Are you sure you have not tested it:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/yamaha-cd-s300-cdplayer?page=1

 

[papi]

Thanks, BigH but the url you've linked to gives a "page not found" type error.

Also, it looks to be a forum post, and not a proper review. I did come across a post in the forum by a What HiFi editor saying that the cd-s300 would be reviewed as part of a one-make system "enormo test", but I assume that's a print-only review, not online. Anyway, is the mention of that "enormo test" what you're linking to?

 

[BigH]

Yes it is a forum post and seems to say that it got 4 stars.

here is link to that page: www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/yamaha-cd-s300-cdplayer?page=1

 

[papi]

Yes, I saw that post as well, by Clare Newsome. But where can I actually find and read the review? What does she mean by comparably priced machines? Anything under 500 quid, or more specifically around the £150 cost of the Yamaha?

 

[BigH]

The reveiw does not seem to be online, maybe too old? As for prices I would say is this around £300 which was the orginal price I believe, so Marantz 6003 maybe.

If money is the factor then that maybe thats the one, as Marantz 6004 is about £75 more. Maybe pop into Richer sounds and hear some. They have a return scheme, may cost 10% if you don't exchange.

 

[Fred24]

To OP,

I have the CD300 at home. I remember i auditioned it along with Marantz CD 6004 across the PM6004 amp to BX2 speaker. My final consensus IMO was that;

The CD 300 seems to captures as much details as the 6004. I found the 6004 perhaps was harsh on the top mid and the treble. which gave me me ear fatigue.. I prefer the smoother top end of the CD 300. So i end up buying the Yamaha instead of the marantz.

IMO given 6004 and CD 300 are both considered as budget cd player. IMO at this price level , if a player is exposing substantial amount of details on a track.. then it’s a good buy. again the reason i took the cd 300. As IMO the slight difference in terms of SQ between CD 300 and 6004 did not match difference in price. as both player in IMO will not produce super realistic reproduction as expensive rivals out there..

Hope this helps.

 

[papi]

Thanks, Fred24. That's exactly the kind of opinion/review I need -- I want to know if the marantz cd6004 is really worth the extra 80 or 90 quid -- I've already been without a cd player for a few months, and I'd rather not wait even longer to save up for the marantz.

 

[GSB]

Theres a yamaha cd s300 for sale in classifieds on av forums

 

[gurjitsidhu]

I have the CDS300 player and i think its fab. I have it connected to the matching AS500 amp powering Q Acoustic 2050i speakers.

i now have the cd player running through a £500 Rega dac and tbh the difference is very small meaning that either my system is not good enough to tell the difference, or that the CDS300 is a fantastic cd player.

so what have you got it connected up to? that will be important. i wouldnt bother getting the Marantz one- i didnt find it was worth the extra at all but thats my opinion.

 

[papi]

Hi, GSB. Thanks for mentioning the classified ad on av forums, GSB. Can you post a link to it? I took a look at the classfieds on the avforums site but wasn't able to find it.

Thanks!!

 

[papi]

Hi, gurjitsidhu. Thanks for your post. My system is nothing fancy. Amp is a Cambridge Audio 540c, version 1. Speakers are 20+ year-old Altec Lansing Model 95's. They're nice, natural sounding 3-way speakers. A bit large as bookshelves, a bit small as floor standers. A little weak in the bass, maybe. Cables are standard cheapo cables. My previous cd player was a Cambridge Audio 340c, which died several months ago.

 

[electricman]

a few weeks ago, i was looking for a new CD player and finally i chose yamaha cd-s300. When i have finished to install it, i was really excited but when the first song played it was horrible. I listen hard-rock and heavy metal and bass wasn't here, really flat like a dvd player which cost 30 euros. I was lucky because it was possible to change it and i replace it by the pioneer PD10. Do you know what, i'm happy now. The sound is the one i want (clear, and powerful) for the same price.

 

[GSB]

Hi, GSB. Thanks for mentioning the classified ad on av forums, GSB. Can you post a link to it? I took a look at the classfieds on the avforums site but wasn't able to find it.

Thanks!!

Sorry didn't see your post,the cdp is sold now.