CD Upgrade a waste of money??? (to match Marantz PM7200)

Hi,

I have slowly been trying to build up a reasonable system over the last 12 months or so (without spending too much cash).

However, I am now in 2 minds as to whether it will be worth me changing my CD player. Firstly my CD player is a joint CD and MD unit (Sony MXD-D3), in which I no-longer use the MD (havn't used MD for over 6 months). The unit sounds ok to me, but I am no audiophile. However, on the otherhand I feel that for little outlay I could perhaps upgrade my CD player to something better, that would perhaps do my amp more justice. Especially when I consider that the MD portion is never getting used anyway.

So my plan is either:-
1) Sell my MXD-D3, add some of my own cash and buy a new CD unit. Max budget = 250 quid (ish). Perhaps the Marantz CD7300 to match my amp ???
2) Stick with the Sony, as I am not going to actually be able to hear the difference between it and a new £250 cd player, or the difference will be so marginal that it doesn't justify the effort of selling the Sony and spending the extra cash ???

FYI, I plan to upgrade the speakers at some point in the future, but it is not feasible at the moment. I will probably look at spending £300 (ish) on my new speakers. Perhaps B&W 602 S3's or some Quads.

My current system =
Sony MXD-D3 (http://yocum.org/minidisc/mxd-d3/)
Cambridge Audio Arctic Interconnect
Marantz PM7200
QED Original
Mordaunt Short 902's
Sony MDR-CD1700 Cans

Your opinions and advice would be appreciated.
Stu.
:MILD:

 

As you say if the MD isn't really getting used you might be as well to move it on and get a better CD player. I'm always inclined to make sure it's really going to be an upgrade, rather than faffing around with very slight differences - you could maybe look at the likes of a used Marantz CD6000KI for that sort of cash.

 

Definitely. I got a CD6K KI-Sig three and a half years ago (i.e. when it was still a current model) for £300 brand new at Richer Sounds so you should be able to get it secondhand for less than that. It's a cracking CD player BTW.

Dunc

 

Is anywhere still selling the CD6000KI ?

Or is it only available second-hand now?

 

lloyd,
check out the new cambridge azure range as well. not heard them but they are very highly thought of by some
cheers

julian

 

Hey lloyd,

I was going to hang on to it, but if you're interested I would consider selling my much cherished cd 6000 KI since I have upgraded to a naim cd 3.5. Unfortunately it would be pick up only. Looking for £225. I am based in SE London. Let me know if your interested.

Cheers,

Lefty

 

Has anyone ever compared the 6000KI to the CD7300? or seen such a comparison on the net?

I am confused as to which of the marantz players have problems with copied CDR's / CDRW's? and more importantly which DONT!

Does anyone know which ones DON'T have ANY problems with CDR's/CDRW's/and Copy Protected media?

The CD7300 is sold as a player that supports both CDR and CDRW, but then I read that it has problems with copy protected media? is this true? (and how much of a problem is this?).

Lefty: you have mail.

 

Hey Stu,

You have PM

 

Surely someone on here must have heard and be able to comment on which is the better player between a CD6000KI and a CD7300??? Has no-one heard them both???



It's all well and good reading reviews about each one seperately, but when it is not a comparison (and they are both supposedly good players) then it is almost impossible to rate one above the other.

ANYONE HEARD BOTH THE CD6000KI and the CD7300???

 

i replied to your pm on hfc re: the Marantz players Stu

the bottom line is of course to go out and try the players against each other. £250 or so is a lot of money just to blindly buy a cd player even with recommendations not made by your very own ears

 

If the transport of your CDP is in good condition consider getting a DAC. £160+
It will take the performance to the level of CDPs costing £1000.
As an added bonus you can plug in many other sources into the DAC and gain considerable increase in quality.

 

I'd agree with BlueMax, add a dac if you are in anyway happy with the MDX as a transport - and it looks as though you should be - but you would have to buy an extra interconnect, so factor that into your budget.

Mind you, I've been looking at MD recorders as a possible digi-box solution for my system, so if you do decide to replace the MDX, let me know as I might be a buyer.

 

the link Stu posted shows that the MXDD3 doesn't have a digital out.

 

Ditton, you have PM.

 

BlueMax,

which DAC would u recommend (esp. if its at that price)? i'm in a similiar position as lloydsj (have an ailing CDP as u know (posted on HFC)), just curious if i a DAC could improve my sound any. i cant seem to find any DACs at that price. someone did recommend the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 2+, but that's donkeys old and bcos of this cant even find any being sold.

cheers.
________
Buy Vapir Vaporizer

 

I haven't listened to many DACs. So far from an expert.
In the budget we are talking about; many people think highly of M-Audio SuperDAC 24/96 for £160. http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/55338.html
Fine by itself for hi-fi, once a simple mod is done to fit RCS sockets.

It can be further improved with some useful tweaks.
Do a search and find posts by WadiaM for the PSU mods.

Other to consider are:
Meridian 203 DAC 7 (263) for £125
Music Fidelity X24K or XDAC (HDCD) Price: £300 http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/archive/
MSB Link DAC
DPA Little Bits DACs