Help me find a good cheap classic cd player please

Help me find a good cheap classic cd player please

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rswift

Original Poster:

1,179 posts

176 months

Sunday 18th November 2012
quotequote all
My Marantz CD85, good bit of kit in its day seems to be beyond repair.

I have a nice classic system, Quad 34/405 & ESL 63 Electrostatic speakers.

Can anyone recommend a good compatible CD player, trying not to spend a fortune & quite happy with EBay & s/h stuff, but it's so long since I bought gear I don't know what is good/bad.

Short list I have got from memory is Marantz CD63, pref Signature or SE, Rotel 865bx..., or have things moved on, and maybe a new Cambridge or similar is the way forward ?

Your thoughts/advice please.

Thank you

rswift

Original Poster:

1,179 posts

176 months

Sunday 18th November 2012
quotequote all
Thanks,

Any thoughts on the old Arcam stuff, 7 etc.

I suppose my main question is will a £200 new machine sound better than a "state of the art, high end machine" that is 20 years old ?

25 years ago, I had a holiday job in a high end Hi Fi shop ... so my knowledge stops around there !

I remember unboxing the Hitachi DA1000, the first cd player we got in the shop, and playing the Elton John CD (the only CD we had)

rswift

Original Poster:

1,179 posts

176 months

Sunday 18th November 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the good advice. The 63 KI holds it price well on EBay.... There's a modded one for £475 !

The Techincs is a good left field choice, my Marantz isn't a right off... yet, although the repairer is looking for some obsolete parts to repair it, so not holding too much hope out.



rswift

Original Poster:

1,179 posts

176 months

Monday 19th November 2012
quotequote all
So,

My preference would be for on of the aptly named "Battleship" machines. I have a a few on my watched Ebay list, and keep scouring Gumtree. A £50 stop gap would be great, just in case they ever fix my CD85 and If I ever get it back, I've got an old Nytech receiver, and a pair of Castle Lincoln's sitting in the loft to make a second system

New machines, the Marantz 6004 is looking to be my best new option. About £300 and I can get the VAT back. I am however reluctant to spend £250 on a s/h old machine ... as I have proved with my CD85, could be left waiting for parts.

In the meantime, the quad system, including an FM4, (connected to an outside aerial) makes a lovely noise !


rswift

Original Poster:

1,179 posts

176 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Well, I watched... and lost a CD67 SE tonight, as someone hit BIN before me, good deal at £45.... I deliberated over a Philips 930 (£33 plus postage)

On my watch list now are Couple of CD63, pioneer 9700, a large ES Sony (can't remember the model offhand) , Rotel 965, Technics 520A...I'm now off working in Spain until Monday, but should have Wi Fi at the hotels, so the quest goes on. Thank you for all help & advice so far.

rswift

Original Poster:

1,179 posts

176 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
So an update for my quest for a decent old CD player.

a mate lent me a bog standard Marantz CD63, which took the panic off finding something quickly. I then found a Rotel 965BX on Ebay for a very reasonable £35, and I have to say it sounds lovely...and appears very tweak-able, should I desire to throw money at it.

Of course, having not been interested in buying gear for years (I figured my Quad Amp, and ESL 63 should last a lifetime, with the odd ongoing repair), I now find myself looking at DAC's, the ability to play via USB, etc etc.

A topic for a different thread, but I have enjoyed looking at all of the old stuff, I think I would get a Marantz KI CD if one popped up, just because they have become so legendary, quite like to see what the fuss is all about.