audiobliss69 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Well, I came up with a nice lengthy response to the CD player thread in my head, only to see that the thread has been locked. Oh well. I read there that the Cambridge Audio 540C is a 'bright' CDP. I had never heard that before. Since I'm pushing Klipsch with a Yammy, I'm pretty sure I don't want to throw something else 'bright' into the mix. Does anyone else have comments to make about the 540C? I'm currently using a Panasonic portable CD player as my source, so I think that will be the next thing I upgrade. (Hopefully tubes are down the road somewhere.) What other CD players would you recommend? I would be buying new and in the $300 - $400 range. Any comments much appreciated!! (Oh, and I'd also appreciate it if we not get into some dispute about the Planet or some such and start acting like kids. I bet the average age for members would have one believe we're too mature for such arguments and attacks as were being tossed around in the previous thread.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Amy Posted August 30, 2005 Moderators Share Posted August 30, 2005 I'm all for an informative thread on this topic! Let's give it a try... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpm Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I agree. Like I said in the other thread, I tried a Cambridge cd player with my rf7s and found it clinical and bright. Also, unless you were within 6 feet of the machine, the remote wouldn't work. I took it back and upgraded to the Rega cdp and am happy. The Rega is warmer sounding for sure, and if that's coloration, I don't care... it just sounds good to everyone that's heard it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khorn Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 One manufacturer with a good reputation in the lower to mid price points is Arcam. If you could find a unit at a decent price to audition it might be worth the trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiobliss69 Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 That's disappointing to hear that the remote didin't want to work. I had gained a certain amount of respect for Cambridge Audio. You think maybe you just had a dud in that respect? Though...my room's so small, I can't get but 6 feet away from it! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 jpm, Your signature footer is flattering: ask Parrot - the encyclopedia of audio knowledge I'm far too humble to believe it myself though. I do know, though, that if a guy who owns a CD player, *any* CD player, has to run a sonic enhancer/exciter with it, I wouldn't trust that CD player as far as I could throw it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpm Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I don't have to run the BBE. I bought it mainly because at low volumes my stereo tends to sound thin and weak. I have no tone controls or gain on the preamp so I was looking for a nice solution. I'm not willing or even slightly interested in a $1000 EQ. The BBE is really nice at lower volumes and does bring a fullness to the music. I typically bypass it when I'm listening at moderate to higher volumes. It's sensational for rock and roll, and less so for jazz. I'm not married to any one method, but to discount it's possibilities for certain applications is silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psg Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I'm also in the market since I play (and enjoy!) CDs through a C$300 5 year-old Pioneer DV-333 DVD player (with twin lasers![]). The Cambridge Audio 540C was recommended as was the Cambridge Audio 540D DVD player (which appears to play CDs well). There's also the NAD 542 and 521BEE. I have a lead on a used Rotel RCD-02. It's a 2002 model and was purchased in 2003, but it's still sold new AFAICT. http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/rcd02.htm Any thoughts on that? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Diggler Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 This one is an absolute no brainer, IMHO. Pick up a Sony DVP-S9000ES and you can pull double duty. Beautiful sound, built like a tank, and at $549 it is a steal! Stretch the budget a little, you will be happy you did, I promise you. https://ganymede.cybrzn.com/soundseller/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/277 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev313 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Agreed on the Sony! I have several cd players through my place including the Planet, a Musical Fidelity / Levison combo (well not anymore, I sold this one), a Resolution Audio Opus 21, and a Audio Note DAC and transport. While the Sony doesn't best those players, it is surely not shamed by them either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickB Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I picked up a Cambridge Audio 640c for my 2-channel setup so my wife wouldn't have to mess with the turntable or lps. I was very surprised how good it sounds. I'm using it with a Parasound amp and pre, and Forte speakers. I don't think it adds any brightness to the sound at all, you're pretty much at the mercy of the cd recording quality as far as how bright it sounds. Probably at least 90% of the time I'm in the 2-channel room I'm playing lps, but on those occasions when I want to hear something that we only have on CD, I'm very happy with the 640c. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenc319 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 hi, Good thread. My Kyocera is ?? 18 years old and my Sony is 10 years old. I like them both but am thinking about getting a newer one. Are new ones really any better? How about the question of tubed cd palyers? How about the question of combined SACD and CD players? Does upsampeling the data help ? I don't know the answers and would like some help before I spend or waste my bucks. thanks, Larry BTW the avitar is my dog Max. Looking for some good doggie tunes for him. At present he likes Coltrane, Davis, Monk and Mozart. Anything else he walks out of the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I agree. Like I said in the other thread, I tried a Cambridge cd player with my rf7s and found it clinical and bright. Also, unless you were within 6 feet of the machine, the remote wouldn't work. I took it back and upgraded to the Rega cdp and am happy. The Rega is warmer sounding for sure, and if that's coloration, I don't care... it just sounds good to everyone that's heard it. Yes, it sure is coloration. And NO, it is NOT the case that everyone who's heard the Rega thinks it sounds good. As for your newly edited signature/footer: ask Parrot - the self-proclaimed encyclopedia of audio knowledge -- this is a LIE and makes me think you have an inferiority complex. Get a life, dude. Not everybody is going to agree with all of your opinions in life, and surely not on an audio discussion board, the purpose of which is to offer varying opinions and experiences with audio equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psg Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 This one is an absolute no brainer, IMHO. Pick up a Sony DVP-S9000ES and you can pull double duty. Beautiful sound, built like a tank, and at $549 it is a steal! Stretch the budget a little, you will be happy you did, I promise you. https://ganymede.cybrzn.com/soundseller/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/277 (Strange... I need to edit as the content of my post never appeared...) It would only pull double-duty on stereo SACDs since it won't play multi-channel. Plus I'd have to find it in Canada because importing here can be expensive (15% taxes even on used gear, duties and brockerage fees) unless it's available at www.ecost.com ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpm Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 ZZzzzzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiobliss69 Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 Thanks for the suggestion about the Sony S9000ES. I looked it up and read about it a bit. However, I'm looking for just audio only, and I wouldn't mind redbook only, either. Also, I'm against Sony in general. I'm not saying all their stuff is junk, as I know that quite a bit from the ES line is very good stuff. I just don't care for Sony. Yeah, I guess it's shopping by brand/specs instead of by sound, but - oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiobliss69 Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 I agree. Like I said in the other thread, I tried a Cambridge cd player with my rf7s and found it clinical and bright. Also, unless you were within 6 feet of the machine, the remote wouldn't work. I took it back and upgraded to the Rega cdp and am happy. The Rega is warmer sounding for sure, and if that's coloration, I don't care... it just sounds good to everyone that's heard it. Yes, it sure is coloration. And NO, it is NOT the case that everyone who's heard the Rega thinks it sounds good. As for your newly edited signature/footer: ask Parrot - the self-proclaimed encyclopedia of audio knowledge -- this is a LIE and makes me think you have an inferiority complex. Get a life, dude. Not everybody is going to agree with all of your opinions in life, and surely not on an audio discussion board, the purpose of which is to offer varying opinions and experiences with audio equipment. It would be much appreciated if you would leave these kinds of comments for either a private message or for a dedicated thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbsl Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I have the NAD C542 and had the NAD C540 for 3 years before it. Pick some of the cd players mentioned here and find dealers for them in your area. Then ask to demo them at your house. You will have to leave a deposit but that is what I did with the Jolida. Picked it up from the store on Sat right before they were closing and brought it back on Monday. I'm glad I did cause it saved me $950 since I did not get the Jolida. Xman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psg Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 As for myself, i could maybe audition a NAD in-home, but the Rotel is used and far away. How about the Onix Audio XCD 88 (which is supposed to be identical to a Music Hall CD 25) ? http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?...rs&product=25.1 http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?r...d&d2&zzlEtran&& I'd have to deal with customs and brokerage fees too, but at least it's inexepensive to begin with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiobliss69 Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 That's a good idea. There's a store nearby (well, 35 minutes away) that sells NAD, and, though I've never seen NAD CDPs, I assume they'd have them. However, the nearest Cambridge Audio dealer is going to be about 2 hours away. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.