Which budget CD player would be a good transport?

Hello everyone,
This is my first post and here goes:

I have just bought a used Shigaraki NOS DAC to replace my 15 year old Audio Alchemy DDE v1.0. I also own an AA DDS2 transport that is starting to show a few aging signs: it can read a whole disc but sometimes it can't find a track when I use the skip/advance button; and an AA DTI jitter filter.

My question is which budget CD player under €300 would best perform as a DAC:

- Nad 521BEE
- Marantz CD-5001OSE
- Denon DCD500AE
- Cambridge Azur 340C
- Cambridge Azur 540Cv1 (discontinued but available w/ discount)
- Rotel RCD02 (discontinued but available w/ discount)

and anything else you may think might work.

Cheers (and thanks),
Ricardo

 

I would have thought any cheap £30 dvd player would be fine if you're using an external dac. Open to being proved wrong though.

 

The transport on a cheap DVD will not be good enough. They will be more prone to errors resulting in a harsh sound when fed into a good DAC.

 

Ive been delighted with my meridian 500 transport over several years.

They can now be had for 400 ish.

Don't think you can do better for the outlay (IMO).

 

Rega Planet Mk1 (and probably the others , also) seem to make nice transports too - proper transformer-couplped SPDIF output stage (coaxial only), and easily reclocked if reqd. Available for c.£150 I'd have thought.

 

Hi Spev, I can assure you that it makes a hell of a difference. Why don't you visit a dealer and try it out.

 

Hi Bottleneck,
I have decided against buying a used player - too may mechanical parts to wear out. I know that the quality I could get from a 500 vs. one of the budget new ones would be much better but I would rather buy a new player that lasts longer (but, hey, maybe the Meridian would last longer). I don't know, maybe I'll reconsider and probe ebay for offers. Thanks.

 

I use a Pioneer PDS705 Stable Platter CD player. 25 notes on Ebay. Absolutely stunning for the money, well built too and wonderful to use. However, I found a significant step up when I replced the mains lead with something decent.

 

Marantz DR-700. It also writes CD's!

 

For circa £300 I'd definitely be looking at the really well built kit like Meridian 200 / 500 (theres some on ebay right now) rather than a cheap new player. You should also be able to find a mint Teac VRDS player as well for that money (VRDS9, VRDS10 etc).

 

you see, I said I was open to being proved wrong...

I've never tested the theory, only read many times how people rate an el cheapo asda dvd player into an outboard dac. Would never do for me, is definitely something I'm considering with my old pioneer dv444 and the sony freeview box though.

 

god yeah, quality of transport makes a real difference - as much as the dac.

best thing is not to think about it logically, just to hear a few and you'll see.

 

Good posting

 

Very nice meridian 500, going soon!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Meridian-500-...73QQihZ014QQcategoryZ3272QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Liam.

 

Or this!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marantz-CD-17...76QQihZ011QQcategoryZ3272QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Very nice indeed

 

buy his dac too!!!

thats what I use...

 

Why thank you - I do my best to help

 

Hi Liam, shouldn't I worry about mechanical problem with players older than 4 or 5 years?

 

Although i'm not using it now, my old Mission dad5, which was reputedly built in the late 80s, was still running fine earlier this year.

I'm guessing a bit but i'd imagine Meridian kit will have the same sort of build quality/longevity.