Good used CD player

[miniman]

I fancy a CD player to go with my Onkyo 9010 amp and Q-Acoustics 3020 speakers. Have been looking at the NAD C538 but could be tempted with something used - let’s say around the £200 mark.

Any suggestions?

[legzr1]

Get a Topping D50 DAC (around £100 used) and add any disc player (even a DVD player for £10 from eBay) with a coax digital output using a £3 lead from Amazon for excellent sound quality.

[lostmotel]

Arcam CD73 would be a solid choice, well within budget.

What sort of sound are you after? Smooth and laid back or in your face?

[Crackie]

miniman said:

I fancy a CD player to go with my Onkyo 9010 amp and Q-Acoustics 3020 speakers. Have been looking at the NAD C538 but could be tempted with something used - let’s say around the £200 mark.

Any suggestions?

Technics SL-PG520A https://www.yaegeraudio.com/reviews/technics-sl-pg...
or
Technics SL-PG-620A https://www.yaegeraudio.com/reviews/technics-sl-pg...

The 620 is very similar to the 520 but has a better enclosure and a dedicated power supply for the audio output stages. I have one of each and despite the higher sped of the 620A I can't tell them apart sonically; I also have a Wadia 301 and the Technics players get remarkably close to it. The Wadia 301 cost almost 20 times more than the Technics 520A.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-SL-PG520-Compa...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TECHNICS-SL-PS620A-COMP...

[miniman]

Some interesting options thanks.

I think probably smooth and laid back most likely sound choice.

[TonyRPH]

legzr1 said:

Get a Topping D50 DAC (around £100 used) and add any disc player (even a DVD player for £10 from eBay) with a coax digital output using a £3 lead from Amazon for excellent sound quality.

This is a good suggestion.

With older CD players, you'll have limited laser life.

At least one of those Technics players suggested has an obsolete laser, meaning replacements are unobtainable.

My suggestion would be a Cambridge D100 / D200 / D500 / 340C / 540C / 640C with an external DAC (as per above) - the mechanism in a dedicated CD player will offer faster disc access than a DVD player if you're impatient .

All of the above Cambridge models use a common and readily available laser, which is very easy to replace.

There are plenty of DACs (with coax inputs) to choose from on Ebay, because more and more people are wanting USB DACs now.

[selym]

legzr1 said:

Get a Topping D50 DAC (around £100 used) and add any disc player (even a DVD player for £10 from eBay) with a coax digital output using a £3 lead from Amazon for excellent sound quality.

Exactly what I did, except the Topping is sharing duties between the Squeezebox and a Pioneer DVD player.

[P700DEE]

Get a DVD-A SACD player, those like a Denon are good. I did and run with Chord Qutest. Why limit yourself to CD when you could also play SACD and DVDs. Built like tanks they sound good too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denon-DVD-2910-DVD-Play...
New laser and refurb only £43

[miniman]

What do we think of Arcam Alpha?

http://www.emporiumhifi.com/head-office-norfolk-su...

[TonyRPH]

miniman said:

What do we think of Arcam Alpha?

http://www.emporiumhifi.com/head-office-norfolk-su...

Obsolete laser, so if the laser goes you have a nice doorstop at least.

Additionally, Emporium HiFi are not known for value....

[miniman]

TonyRPH said:

Obsolete laser, so if the laser goes you have a nice doorstop at least.

Additionally, Emporium HiFi are not known for value....

Noted

[TonyRPH]

A quick scan on Ebay found two decent Sony players, both with readily available lasers if needed.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SONY-CDP-970-CD-PLAYER/...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SONY-CD-PLAYER-CDP-590-...

[miniman]

I have a CDP-397 from 1992 in my study.

[TonyRPH]

miniman said:

I have a CDP-397 from 1992 in my study.

then you'll know what nice players they are

[miniman]

TonyRPH said:

miniman said:

I have a CDP-397 from 1992 in my study.

then you'll know what nice players they are

They are indeed

I may just relocate it as I tend to listen via Chromecast in the study.

[selym]

P700DEE said:

Get a DVD-A SACD player, those like a Denon are good. I did and run with Chord Qutest. Why limit yourself to CD when you could also play SACD and DVDs. Built like tanks they sound good too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denon-DVD-2910-DVD-Play...
New laser and refurb only £43

I have the Pioneer DV868avi player which plays it all also, so versatile.

[Crackie]

TonyRPH said:

legzr1 said:

Get a Topping D50 DAC (around £100 used) and add any disc player (even a DVD player for £10 from eBay) with a coax digital output using a £3 lead from Amazon for excellent sound quality.

This is a good suggestion.

With older CD players, you'll have limited laser life.

At least one of those Technics players suggested has an obsolete laser, meaning replacements are unobtainable.

My suggestion would be a Cambridge D100 / D200 / D500 / 340C / 540C / 640C with an external DAC (as per above) - the mechanism in a dedicated CD player will offer faster disc access than a DVD player if you're impatient .

All of the above Cambridge models use a common and readily available laser, which is very easy to replace.

There are plenty of DACs (with coax inputs) to choose from on Ebay, because more and more people are wanting USB DACs now.

Fair point about older players potentially having a limited laser life however............both of the Technics players use the Philips CDM4/19 laser mechanism. There are several of them available new and used on Ebay and elsewhere.

There are also hundreds of philips and Technics players you could rob one from if needed. The Technics players with an A suffix at the end of the model number all used that mechanism. Technics built them in Germany and used a European Philips mechanism to get around the EU's tarrifs.

The CDM4 is a great mech, the 620A has a digital out so it could also be used as a transport to feed a DAC.

[TonyRPH]

Crackie said:

Fair point about older players potentially having a limited laser life however............both of the Technics players use the Philips CDM4/19 laser mechanism. There are several of them available new and used on Ebay and elsewhere.

Any used laser is likely to have a limited life.

Clone CDM4/19 lasers from China are ~ £50

Genuine CDM4/19 replacements are £100

I can't see the point of spending ~ £100 for a used CD player that may need a (£50 - £100) laser in a short period of time.

Crackie said:

There are also hundreds of philips and Technics players you could rob one from if needed. The Technics players with an A suffix at the end of the model number all used that mechanism. Technics built them in Germany and used a European Philips mechanism to get around the EU's tarrifs.

The CDM4 is a great mech, the 620A has a digital out so it could also be used as a transport to feed a DAC.

See my comment above re: used lasers.

Additionally, the Cambridge and Sony players make for excellent transports.

The Cambridge players have servo control units designed by Sony, which are low jitter, and all have coaxial digital outputs (I think the Technics are optical only).

You can get a replacement laser for the Sony players for around £10 - £15 (this is a complete mechanism).

[Crackie]

TonyRPH said:

Crackie said:

Fair point about older players potentially having a limited laser life however............both of the Technics players use the Philips CDM4/19 laser mechanism. There are several of them available new and used on Ebay and elsewhere.

Any used laser is likely to have a limited life.

Clone CDM4/19 lasers from China are ~ £50

Genuine CDM4/19 replacements are £100

I can't see the point of spending ~ £100 for a used CD player that may need a (£50 - £100) laser in a short period of time.

Fair enough......I did agree with you above regarding the potential for a laser to pack up. Never had an issue with either of mine though which, together, have been in use for over 50 years. They've been in constant use by various members of the family throughout that time.

We both used to fix Hi-Fi gear back in the day. Philips' swing arms are very reliable but I agree they are getting a bit long in the tooth. Based upon that repair experience, the reliability of mine which I've known from new and the brilliant sound quality I'd be more than happy to take a punt on S/H one. That's why I'm advocating them.

They certainly aren't £100 second hand https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-SL-PG520A-CD-p...

If, on the off chance the laser were to die then a second hand CDM4/19 mech can be had for £30 - £40 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Philips-CDM4-19...

You could buy two 520s for less than £100.......use the one with the good cosmetics and on the off chance the laser does get tired, replace it with the mech from the scruffy one. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TECHNICS-SL-PG520A-MASH...

[Crackie]

P700DEE said:

Get a DVD-A SACD player, those like a Denon are good. I did and run with Chord Qutest. Why limit yourself to CD when you could also play SACD and DVDs. Built like tanks they sound good too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denon-DVD-2910-DVD-Play...
New laser and refurb only £43

Good suggestion.