Have CD players improved over the years?

[MathNerd]

I have upgraded my speakers and can now hear the limitations of my Marantz CD6007 player. Do I dismiss older players and go for a new/newer player? I have a Lumin D2 streamer.

[MathNerd]

Hi

 

I have a 90s Sansui AU X711 amp connecting a Rega RP8 turntable with a Clearaudio Maestro V1 Cartridge, a Marantz CD 6006, and a Lumin D2 streamer. I have recently added a pair of Spendor S100 speakers to the system after having JBL L92 speakers. I love listening to music and am looking for a musical and involving system... not necessarily the most accurate and revealing.

[The Rock Puppy]

Welcome to Stereonet.

Any questions you have about CD players are best posted over in the "Digital Sources, DACs,..." section. Much bigger audience and hence more chance of a reply or two.

[MathNerd]

Thanks!

Posted here to comply with the admin protocol... but will check that out now.

 

[ganache]

Welcome to the forum Zowie!  Congrats on getting the Spendor S100 speakers

[David A]

To me cd players...particularly high end cd players have improved significantly since the early 90's. Dac chips, boards, caps, clocks, isolation technology and overall build quality are higher than vintage players. But there are a few exceptions. The Reimyo CDP-777 from 2004 had the best off the shelf rbcd transport mech ever made - the legendary Victor XL-Z900, along with JVC's extended K2 processor used in XRCD24 mastering, Kitamura Kiden c-core trannies, and Reimyo isolation technology in a powerhouse Japenese collaboration. And some vintage dac chips like the Philips TDA1541A double crown have been used in classic dacs like the Zanden 5000 Mk.IV Signature. Another excellent vintage dac chip - the Burr Brown PCM1704 is still used today in mid and high end cd players. 

 

There are quite a few vintage cd players such as the Reimyo I mentioned which, if looked after and serviced, can still mix it with the best players today. Likewise there are legendary dacs like the Vimak DS1800Mk2 which can still mix it with good high end dacs today. That said, my general recommendation would be to buy a new player as it should be more serviceable in the long run. And there are some good value players which offer great sound. Parts availability for vintage cd players (such as replacement laser pickups) can be difficult. The last thing you want to buy is a boat anchor.

[MathNerd]

On 08/04/2025 at 11:30 PM, ganache said:

Welcome to the forum Zowie!  Congrats on getting the Spendor S100 speakers

Thanks!! I had to upgrade from my Project Evo Carbon/Grado turntable within a week... the Spendor's highlighted the complete lack of detail... I can see how addictive this could become.

[MathNerd]

On 09/04/2025 at 5:30 AM, David A said:

To me cd players...particularly high end cd players have improved significantly since the early 90's. Dac chips, boards, caps, clocks, isolation technology and overall build quality are higher than vintage players. But there are a few exceptions. The Reimyo CDP-777 from 2004 had the best off the shelf rbcd transport mech ever made - the legendary Victor XL-Z900, along with JVC's extended K2 processor used in XRCD24 mastering, Kitamura Kiden c-core trannies, and Reimyo isolation technology in a powerhouse Japenese collaboration. And some vintage dac chips like the Philips TDA1541A double crown have been used in classic dacs like the Zanden 5000 Mk.IV Signature. Another excellent vintage dac chip - the Burr Brown PCM1704 is still used today in mid and high end cd players. 

 

There are quite a few vintage cd players such as the Reimyo I mentioned which, if looked after and serviced, can still mix it with the best players today. Likewise there are legendary dacs like the Vimak DS1800Mk2 which can still mix it with good high end dacs today. That said, my general recommendation would be to buy a new player as it should be more serviceable in the long run. And there are some good value players which offer great sound. Parts availability for vintage cd players (such as replacement laser pickups) can be difficult. The last thing you want to buy is a boat anchor.

Thanks so much for this detailed reply. I have to put a cap on spending ($1500 AUD), for a CD player, and debating whether 2nd hand will give me better sound. 

I am used to the Philips Bitstream sound and also aware that while a detailed player may be more revealing... I want the thing to boogie.

[David A]

53 minutes ago, MathNerd said:

Thanks so much for this detailed reply. I have to put a cap on spending ($1500 AUD), for a CD player, and debating whether 2nd hand will give me better sound. 

I am used to the Philips Bitstream sound and also aware that while a detailed player may be more revealing... I want the thing to boogie.

 

With your budget, i'd look at good pre-owned players like this Unison Research player I found on Audiomart, which is a bit above your budget - https://www.aussieaudiomart.com/details/650149781-unison-research-unico-cde-cd-player/

[MathNerd]

15 minutes ago, David A said:

 

With your budget, i'd look at good pre-owned players like this Unison Research player I found on Audiomart, which is a bit above your budget - https://www.aussieaudiomart.com/details/650149781-unison-research-unico-cde-cd-player/

Cheers for that... much appreciated!

It may not fit in my carry-on... but I could look at shipping it over....

[was_a]

CD players reached maturity around the mid-2000s as DAC-chip technology advanced (the original Rega Apollo comes to mind). But beware a trend towards hyper-detail and overly clean sound-quality among modern disc-players (Marantz HDAM products, Audiolab comes to mind), not helped by cost-aware manufacturing that makes many current offerings look like light-weight toys compared to those from the  '90s. That $1500 price-point will buy you a second-hand Rega Saturn, Creek Evolution, Roksan Caspian. That's where I'd look.

 

Alternatively, budget DACs like the Fosi Zd3 and the FiiO K11 R2R are ridiculously good for the money. I know, because I've tried both against DACs costing ten times as much. Why not try one, powered by an iFi iPower X, and use your Marantz as transport via coaxial connection. You might be surprised.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 01:16 AM by was_a

[MathNerd]

This is good advice and information. References on good gear is gold.

I used the DAC on my Marantz DCC player and Philip player as a transport for 10 years... before the display on it gave up the ghost. 

[April Snow]

It is always good to consider if gapless playback is important to you too, as many new CD players cannot do this.

It is a big deal to me as I have a few DJ Megamixes and live concerts that I prefer to play through gapless.