Thread: what to look for in new cd player?

I have the itch again and I am looking to upgrade my cd player. I have no interest in streaming or anything like that, I like the handling of the discs and reading the liner notes. I see specs like DSD 256, DSD 512 and all kinds of specs. What specs do I need to get the best out of standard and audiophile cds? My current player is an Ayon 2s and is about 8 years old. I thought of buying a separate dac, however, I really would prefer a one box player. My budget is $10,000 or less. Thanks in advance.

I was spinning discs on an Ayon myself for a while. After that I switched to EAR/Yoshino Tube CD player. If you are not looking at streaming and do not want the digital inputs (a bit strange imho as streaming is the future) then, the specs do not matter really, the musicality of the EAR tube CDP should make you more than happy. It does however have inputs and should be ready when you are to embrace the future of streaming and Qobuz/Tidal/Roon world library of music. EAR Acute Classic - Valve CD Player Transport & DAC Player

Just found a 2017 review in Stereophile. I did not have the same experience as the reviewer of stereophile but it is something to keep in mind however. I was shocked at his conclusion and I actually also had my Acute playing with some Shindo gear and it was nothing short of very musical. I did have the EAR Acute III version of that CDP.

In the same review he mentions Luxman D-06 which is also what I have now. Another great choice for an SACD player. I love it. The EAR was a great CDP for me as well.

Here is my EAR playing on Shindo and big boy Tannoy EAR Acute III - YouTube

EAR Acute Classic CD player Page 2 | Stereophile.com

Originally Posted by stereogeek

I have the itch again and I am looking to upgrade my cd player. I have no interest in streaming or anything like that, I like the handling of the discs and reading the liner notes. I see specs like DSD 256, DSD 512 and all kinds of specs. What specs do I need to get the best out of standard and audiophile cds? My current player is an Ayon 2s and is about 8 years old. I thought of buying a separate dac, however, I really would prefer a one box player. My budget is $10,000 or less. Thanks in advance.

A CD player can only do 16/44. Assuming that it can also play SACD, then it can also do DSD64.

Quite frankly if you are thinking of anything above DSD64 or anything above 16/44 you will have to do some type of streaming. No standard or audiophile CD player can do that.

For the kind of money that you want to spend on a CD player, you can get a killer streaming system (streamer, DAC, music player/server) that will do 24/352 or DSD512. And if you include a subscription to something like Roon, you will also get to read liner notes and all kind of curated info on the album and artist.

Originally Posted by stereogeek

...I am looking to upgrade my cd player.
I have no interest in streaming or anything like that,

Me too
I know Ayon sound.
Its good, it makes a open and big stage but it lacks the ultimate openness and transparency.
Saying so, i would´t move to any tube CD player.
It´s a pity that Meridian and Simaudio don´t make Cd players anymore. Like the fools of Linn.
I found myself asking the same question; what to buy to upgrade mine cd player. And i just think in this

EMC 1 MKV Reference CD player
– International

Less expensive than your budget and i bet a great forward step in sound quality.

In this list below, maybe Roksan deserves your attention, even if it looks like low end

Best CD players 2020: CD players for every budget | What Hi-Fi?

My contenders would be the new Esoteric K-03XD and the new Luxman D-10X, both of which should be excellent DACs for streaming in addition to superb CD/SACD players.

In other topics, there are many opinions that the new Esoteric are very different for the better, with a fuller and more balanced sound in contrast to the analytical and hyper-detailed sound of previous models.
So I believe it can be a step forward but I suggest a direct comparison.

This is because I have a friend who has an Ayon CD-5 and, 3 or 4 years ago, we had the possibility to make a comparison with the Esoteric K-07 and and the winner was clearly the Ayon.

I own a K-03X and had a loaned D-08u about a year and a half ago. I was impressed by the Luxman, but it was clearly about to be replaced as the brand's flagship. Both player lines have been significantly improved. Unfortunately direct comparisons in the near term will be difficult due to my location and dealer challenges.

I've heard good and not so good things about Ayon players. Compared to Esoteric and Luxman, this is a boutique brand, at least in the US. I'm not inclined to take the risk.

Thanks for the feedback, the digital world is a bit more complicated for me than buying speakers or an amp. I am kind of looking at the Esoteric '5 or '7, Luxman 06 or 08 or the Ayon 35. Since all these have at least DSD 256 or above does this mean I can stream through these without an additional device? Will all of these play cds with the same resolution? I feel like a real noob with these questions, much has changed over the last few years.

Originally Posted by stereogeek

I have the itch again and I am looking to upgrade my cd player. I have no interest in streaming or anything like that, I like the handling of the discs and reading the liner notes. I see specs like DSD 256, DSD 512 and all kinds of specs. What specs do I need to get the best out of standard and audiophile cds? My current player is an Ayon 2s and is about 8 years old. I thought of buying a separate dac, however, I really would prefer a one box player. My budget is $10,000 or less. Thanks in advance.

On second thought.... for a fraction of your budget, find yourself a used Oppo 205. It will play CDs and SACDs. It will do DSD native and can play DSD 256. It is also a Roon endpoint so you can use it to stream your music if you ever decide to do that in the future. It also has digital outs in case you want to use another DAC in the future. Ah, almost forgot to mention that it is multichannel.

I really appreciate all the feedback so far. I hate to sound like a noob again but here goes. Does streaming have a higher resolution than SACD and regular cd's? Can you hear a difference? I have performed some searches but I'm still lost....lol.

Originally Posted by stereogeek

I really appreciate all the feedback so far. I hate to sound like a noob again but here goes. Does streaming have a higher resolution than SACD and regular cd's? Can you hear a difference? I have performed some searches but I'm still lost....lol.

Here is the one important fact to read today... Pay attention to the very last sentence.

Within the audiophile community, the sound from the SACD format is thought to be significantly better compared to older format Red Book Compact Disc recordings. However, In September 2007, the Audio Engineering Society published the results of a year-long trial in which a range of subjects including professional recording engineers were asked to discern the difference between SACD and compact disc audio (44.1 kHz/16 bit) under double blind test conditions. Yet, 49.8% successfully answered correctly, corresponding almost exactly to the 50% that would have been expected by chance guessing alone.

This conclusion is contentious among a large segment of audio engineers who work with high resolution material and many within the audiophile community whom can hear significant differences between these formats. What is clear is the quality of the original recording and the mastering process have a lot to do with these audible differences.

One can test his/her audiophile ears here. How well can you hear the difference in resolution? How Well Can You Hear Audio Quality? : The Record : NPR

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

In the same review he mentions Luxman D-06 which is also what I have now. Another great choice for an SACD player. I love it. The EAR was a great CDP for me as well.

Hi Octopus,

I have the D06u and also love it. It is the antithesis of "digital" sound that analogue critics speak about. I'm sure that the new Luxman players are improved but given the "limited" transparency of my system (Joseph Audio Pulsars with REL T7i sub, CJ ET5 pre, and Pass Labs 250.5 amp) and my 70 year old ears, this is my last CDP. Best.

Gordon

Those were the good old days my friend. I will always remember that event. And if memory serves me correctly (an oxymoron at best), I wasn't 39 or even close at that time. Take care and wonderful to reconnect with you on this forum. Hope all is well with you and family.

Gordon

idk

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

I was spinning discs on an Ayon myself for a while. After that I switched to EAR/Yoshino Tube CD player. If you are not looking at streaming and do not want the digital inputs (a bit strange imho as streaming is the future) then, the specs do not matter really, the musicality of the EAR tube CDP should make you more than happy. It does however have inputs and should be ready when you are to embrace the future of streaming and Qobuz/Tidal/Roon world library of music. EAR Acute Classic - Valve CD Player Transport & DAC Player

I looked at your player and wonder about the volume knob. Does it adjust in the digital or analog domain? What Ayon did you have and differences to your Ear Acute? Thx again.