Cambridge Audio CD1

Hey experienced digital users,

Does anyone have any experience of the Cambridge Audio CD1?

I know it was once the most expensive (£1500) and best performing CD player of them all - in 198x that is. I always wanted this item and now have sourced one for.

How about servicing? ( I know that particular iteration of Cambridge Audio is long gone.

Does anyone know Stan Curtis E - Mail Address?

Thanks

Darren

 

Erm it sounds rather dated. Are you sure it was £1500 in the 1980's? I always understood Cambridge Audio were always cheaper than brands like Arcam/Naim etc.

 

It was £1500 back in 1986.It must be a superb sounding player as hifi-review said it was"the best CD player we have heard.It even has Bass!"......

Paul.

 

Wow a CD player that has bass. It must have been good.

Seriously though I am sure it must have been very good in 1986 but things have moved on a little bit since then.

 

Well I wouldn't buy ones unless it was very cheap....would be interesting to compare it to a modern player though.

Paul.

 

Don't get me wrong boys: I'm not looking for a giant killer here.
Rather a bit of 'back to the eighties' fun. This player was supposed to be head and shoulder above its' contempories.

I wonder how far we've come?

Anyway the CD1 is 95 quid... How wrong can I go?

Darren

 

If it's working ok then I would go for it at £95.

Paul

 

Paul,

You confirm my own thoughts. Will let everyone know how I am doing with it.

Darren

 

Nice one darren.....

 

This would have been before Cambridge Audio was taken over by the Audio Partnership (Richer Sounds).

Certainly I reckon it will sound very average compared to todays £300 players. Plus it's very old, transport longevity could be a worry so I wouldnt pay over £100 for it unless you really want it bad.

 

Not as much as you'd think. HiFi World did a comparo recently of the Meridian 507 (pretty current) vs the Meridian MCD Pro (early 80s top player) and there wasn't that much in it. They though the old Meridian was more musical

Also, I occasionally get a chance to listen to my dad's Philips CD104 (circa 1982) and it is surprisingly good.

Michael.

 

hey Mike,

I've had similar experiences with older CDPs.

Although using the 104's transport mech the CD1 was hugely modded - more like redesigned really and it's case alone is twice as tall as the 104.

Darren

PS Thanks for everyone's interest. Isn't this a friendly forum?

 

I suppose a lot of it is just the media and the hifi companies telling us things have moved on a lot just so we go out and buy a new CD player.

 

Why not try one of these bad boi's out !

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?dgtlplay&1076473252

 

voodoo,
i'll raise you this mac daddy of an 80's pimpin' cd player...
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/blueswapper/nakdragoncd.html

cheers


julian

 

HOLY SH*T :MILD: !

"It's dee plane boss, it's dee plane !"

That's one pimpin' CDP.

 

Is that CD1 the one that has the error counter on it? I'd love one of these

I used to (until the laser died) have a 1986 Marantz CD54 - basically an improved version of the Philips CD104 (front loading, but using the same mechanism as the original top loading CD100. It was warm, musical and fairly couth sounding - not bad for £15 in 1998

I also have a Technics SL-P2 from 1985 - front loading, twin multibit DAC, remote. It's a bit temperamental but I got it for free in 1999.

 

I'm a bit confused !!

I have a CA cd4 and I only paid £65 !!

there is a CD2 FS £ 100 :-

http://www.adverts.hififorsale.com/results.asp?dbfield=All&dbsearch=cambridge

Surely £100 for a cd1 is a bit much, considering what a lot of cd you can buy for your £ nowadays ??

 

... and thats been there since 9/6/2003.

Is there another cd1 I'm confusing it with ??

 

The CD1 was released before the company was taken over by Richer Sounds and turned into a budget manufacturer. Back in the day Cambridge Audio used to be a very respected brand.