Why do we need playlists? Insert a CD and listen to a great album from start to finish. With high-quality CD players, you can enjoy this musical journey with better quality audio than regular streaming services (unless you pay extra for lossless audio).
What should you consider before purchasing? When choosing, you should consider factors such as the functionality of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC), ease of use, control features and, of course, performance. Or simply choose the player that best suits your budget and aesthetic preferences.
The CD players below are a comprehensive list of what we consider to be the best on the market. But rest assured that all the models listed below are good choices.
Marantz CD6007 (Japan)
Price: $600
This Marantz model has been around for a long time in various forms and is still the best choice at this price. You'd have to go back a decade and four model cycles to find a CD6000 with a completely different look. But despite the excellent build quality, it's the internal improvements that Marantz has made to its CD players that are noteworthy.
A quieter power supply and upgraded HDAM amplifier modules are supported by a number of high-quality internal components, not to mention a DAC chip upgrade to an AKM 4490, allowing the CD6007 to handle high-resolution files via the front USB-A connector. It supports PCM files up to 24bit/192kHz and DSD128.
What does all of this mean? This makes your music sound great. It's full of groove and punch, and there are even some digital filters to let you tweak the sound to your liking.
Owners of the CD6006UK shouldn't rush to upgrade, but the CD6007 is certainly the right choice for first-time buyers in this market segment.
Which CD player to buy
1. If you are a professional DJ, then your choice is obvious. You should like the Pioneer CDJ-900, which can easily replace a set of a laptop and a pair of controllers. You can also consider cheaper solutions from the same line, but they have less extensive functionality - this should be kept in mind.
2. Well, everyone else needs to evaluate the four other CD players reviewed today. All of them differ significantly in appearance, breadth of settings and number of connectors. Read reviews of these devices and come to a specific choice.
Cyrus CD i (England)
Price: $1300
Cyrus hasn't done anything wrong with its CD players for as long as we can remember; It's fair to say that her musical track record is phenomenal. So it's no surprise that the Cyrus CD i is another clear example that the company is on the right track.
The long, thin aluminum body isn't exactly impressive, but underneath it hides one of the best CD players we've heard. We love the simple design, easy-to-read display, and high-quality remote control. The CD holder is a little noisy when inserting a disc, but during playback it is as quiet as you'd expect.
As for the sound, it's truly impressive for the price, offering plenty of detail and rhythmic precision. To hear something better, you'll have to spend a little more.
Cyrus CDi-XR (England)
Price: $3000
Cyrus already dominated this list before the CDi-XR arrived, but the latest version of the player will solidify the brand's dominance in this category for years to come. The appearance is quite similar, but the LCD screen is new, as well as new control buttons.
Under the hood is a second-generation 32-bit QXR DAC platform, a new power supply and other improvements designed to improve sound quality. Connectivity includes two pairs of stereo RCA analog outputs, coaxial and optical digital outputs, and MC bus connections. You'll also find connections for Cyrus' new external power supply, the PSU-XR.
Sonically, the CDi-XR delivers detail, dynamics and powerful bass. The audio clarity is fantastic and the low-frequency response is presented in a way that rivals can't match. It is full of rhythmic drive and is able to easily convey the energy and dynamics of the music.
In our opinion, this is undoubtedly a class leader in its price category.
Mega comparison of vintage CD players (1984-1997)
Descriptions of popular vintage CD players can still be found on the Internet with some diligence, but a successful search for information on their direct comparison is almost impossible.
The presented material will be all the more interesting for fans of High Fidelity music. I had at my disposal 5 wonderful vintage representatives from the “golden” era of audio, as they like to call this period on message boards. Therefore, in today's comparison, the following models are honored to compete with each other: Denon DCD-1650AL Kenwood DP-7090 Yamaha CDX-1020 Pioneer PD-90 Technics SL-P770
A few details about each of them.
Denon DCD-1650AL (1995, ￥99000)
The most famous and successful model from the company, which has received cult status among audiophiles due to the following fact. This device is a prototype of the Hi-End players of the S10 series, of a completely different cost, despite the fact that the filling is almost identical, with minor exceptions - one device has polystyrene film capacitors, and the other has polypropylene capacitors, and excellent op-amps are also installed. Moreover, the sound of the 1650 is almost impossible to distinguish from the S10. In other words, for reasonable money, taking the 1650 we get a model with impeccable Hi-End sound of the highest level. The device is built on 4 DACs BB PCM1702 and a unique Denon alpha processor, producing 20-bit sound of the highest quality. Weight: 10.2 kg Power: 100 volts
Kenwood DP-7090 (1997, ￥69800)
The player is amazing, both in its contents and technical characteristics: 8 magnificent Burr-Brown PCM 1702 DACs, 32 times oversampling (1 million 400 thousand Hertz) and high resolution - 22 bits. All this provides the smoothest and incredibly open sound that amazed me when I first heard the Kenwood DP-7090. Weight: 7.6 kg Power: 100 volts
Yamaha CDX-1020 (1989, ￥82500) An interesting model from 1988. At that time, there was a fierce struggle to increase the signal bit rate. Higher flagships strived for higher bit resolution, and 16 bits became the lot of more primitive models. Yamaha in the CDX-1020 used 2 PCM58P DACs (each 18-bit), which are stereo, i.e. It's essentially 4 mono DACs. And thanks to a special algorithm, combining 4 DACs I was able to get a 22-bit signal at the output (18+4 bit is written on the front). Then, using 8x oversampling of digital filters at the output, you can enjoy the sound converted to analogue from 22 bits 352800 Hz. The device itself is very heavy - about 12 kg. Made fundamentally. Weight: 11.8 kg Power: 100 volts
Pioneer PD-90 (1984)
A very interesting device and so rare that I couldn’t even find a photo of it on the Internet from users. I was very interested in the Pioneer PD-90 model, in addition to its rarity, it was named "Best Product of Japan" in 1984 by Stereo Sound magazine. An intriguing device that amazed everyone; I was able to get it in black with chic polished sides. Built on a multi-bit 16-bit DAC from Sony CX20017. The weight feels like approximately 7 kg. Power: 100 volts
Technics SL-P770 (1988, ￥59800)
The player is built on 4 PCM56 DACs. In the era of the pursuit of increasing bit rates, Technics, using a special approach, announces the achievement of 18 bits and the use of rather sophisticated digital filters. Weight: 11.8 kg Power: 100 volts
The devices are located, as you may have guessed, not randomly. I listened to them according to the scale of my ideas, which of them should be of a higher class and which should be lower - but it’s not a fact that this happened, you will find out how the players are actually comparable to each other by the end of the material. First, I identified the Denon DCD-1650AL player as a base for comparison, since at this point I had been listening to it as the main source for several weeks and its sound was very familiar to me. I really wanted to compare it with the Denon DCD-1650AL, the Kenwood DP-7090 player that once really amazed me, whose 1 million 400 thousand hertz and 22 bits still made me salivate powerfully. Therefore, it was extremely interesting to pit a prototype of a high-end device against an inexpensive (in retail) top from Kenwood.
Listening system: Top-end amplifier Yamaha A-2000 (1983, ￥189000, weight 26 kg, power 130 watts per channel)
Speaker systems JBL 4312B MKII (1999, ￥156000 per pair), sensitivity 93 dB.
Listening was done from the Tonny Benet “Viva Duets” and Yello “Baby” CDs.
Additionally, we listened to the albums of Caterina Valente, Accept “Ball to the Wall”, Tierney Sutton “Blue and Green”, Bill Evans Trio '64, etc.
Listening to Denon DCD-1650AL The device demonstrates the highest resolution. Each instrument is clearly delineated and its origin is clear. Everything can be heard with extraordinary clarity, right in the palm of your hand. The sounds of wind instruments are rich, bright, and multifaceted.
The vocals sound great. Almost any recording in the specified path is reproduced as naturally as possible.
Listening to the Kenwood DP-7090 The next device for listening was the Kenwood DP-7090. By the way, after each new player I listened to the Denon DCD-1650AL again, so that all comparisons would be based on the Denon DCD-1650AL, in order to have a reference point for the sound.
The Kenwood DP-7090 CD player, turned on after the Denon DCD-1650AL, smeared the instruments a little. Overall, it was still a highly detailed, high-class sound, but not as surgically calibrated and, I would say, reference-quality, like the Denon DCD-1650AL. The sound also became flatter. To be honest, I didn’t expect this, having very high hopes for Kenwood, but the Denon DCD-1650AL was clearly better. The sound of the Kenwood DP-7090 was very open, airy, the instruments were in full view, but slightly smeared, without the super precision of the 1650.
Listening to the Yamaha CDX-1020 After test listening to the Denon DCD-1650AL to refresh my musical memory, I turn on a new contender - the Yamaha CDX-1020. The player demonstrates a very rich sound, rich in detail. But the instruments are just as slightly smeared as on the Kenwood DP-7090, but the presentation is a little lighter. That is, there is also no manic attention to micro-rendering here, despite the resolution actually being at the maximum level.
It is obvious that the Yamaha CDX-1020 and Kenwood DP-7090 are absolutely comparable in sound, both are very tasty, interesting, work well with wind instruments, but slightly lacking in the figured depiction of the musical composition and its depth. Overall a little simpler or flatter than the Denon DCD-1650AL. It is clearly visible that the Denon DCD-1650AL remains in the lead. But I would perhaps place the Yamaha CDX-1020 slightly higher in the lineup than the Kenwood DP-7090.
Listening to the Pioneer PD-90 So we got to the rare model Pioneer PD-90 - the best device in Japan in 1984. In this listening ranking, I initially thought that the device from 1984 would most likely be inferior in resolution and other aspects to more modern players, so in descending order listening to the Pioneer PD-90 came after the Kenwood DP-7090 and Yamaha CDX-1020. But judge for yourself how powerful his competitors who come from the pre-top segment are! Of course, before listening, I again refresh my memory by listening to the basic Denon DCD-1650AL - a prototype of the high-end Denon S10.
At the first moment of listening, I was a little surprised by the rich sound of the Pioneer PD-90. Brass and vocals are reproduced naturally, but after just a minute of listening it becomes clear that sound resolution is not the best strength of this player, however, almost all quite expensive devices of that time, built on 16 and 14 bit DACs, showed themselves in the same way. In general, the device plays clearly below the class of previously tested models; the title of the best CD player in Japan in 1984 was given to it for a reason; it is at the same sound level as players from 1982-1984 (for example, no worse and no better than the Sony CDP-101 on this same DAC).
the Technics SL-P770 audition for the end of the audition, since I am well familiar with the sound of this CD player. This is a mid-range device and has a pretty good resolution.
So I turn on the Technics SL-P770 for listening. The sound is quite detailed, rich in timbre, natural, but expectedly flat. In principle, if we take into account the different manner of presenting music, it is quite comparable in class to the Pioneer PD-90 we listened to before, but is a little more interesting due to its higher resolution.
Results So, let's summarize the totality of auditions. Almost immediately, dominance in sound quality was revealed in the Denon DCD-1650AL CD player - whose leadership remained unshakable. And I confirm that this is truly a high-end audiophile device, with sophisticated, surgically meticulous processing of all musical events and presentation with a completely natural sound. If you don’t hear this, blame your speakers or a low-quality amplifier. On the second step was the ultra-detailed Yamaha CDX-1020 CD player with a rich, delicious sound that slightly blurred the musical images - obviously a consequence of some kind of simplification. The Kenwood DP-7090 walked confidently close to the Yamaha CDX-1020, having a slightly smoother presentation, but with the same slightly blurred moments compared to the reference Denon DCD-1650AL. With a beautiful rich sound, but not so much detail and scrupulousness in depicting musical material, the Pioneer PD-90 and Technics SL-P770 are a class behind, which will become diamonds in a mid-level system ($1000-1500 per component).
But I’m in no hurry to finish this test review and, as a non-competitive comparison, I connected a very interesting and heavy amplifier Victor AX-Z911 (1988, ￥89800), which at the time of release had a rather serious DAC on board. Its quality is interesting to understand.
Listening to the Victor AX-Z911 The amplifier itself honestly impressed me, easily producing flagship-level sound - very high clarity, excellent elaboration of the entire range of audio frequencies. As a source, I connected a Denon DCD-1650AL to it, via analog input and optical. This way I can switch the sound in real time from the analog sound of the CD player to the sound of the DAC built into the amplifier with one button.
The first comparison showed the advantage of the sound of the Denon DCD-1650AL CD player over the DAC - the sound of the DAC was less natural, slightly dry. But the amplifier for listening to DACs has a Direct DAC mode, which I am now going to use. The amplifier's DAC in Direct DAC mode showed a noticeable improvement. In many places in musical compositions, I can no longer tell by ear where the analog output of the Denon DCD-1650AL is playing and where the amplifier's DAC is playing. But the vocals turned out to be the Achilles heel. The ear can easily detect inauthenticity. In this case, the amplifier's DAC made it a little easier to work with the echo remaining after the voice, and the listener immediately felt this in the insufficient duration of the echo-after-sound of the voice, a certain dryness. Let me also remind you of how high-class the Denon DCD-1650AL player itself is and a number of moments in musical compositions without vocals sounded indistinguishable, so I rate the amplifier’s DAC and the amplifier itself very highly.
Roksan Caspian M2 CD (England)
Price: $2200
Five years later, the Roksan Caspian M2 CD is still very popular and, at around $2,200, remains a good player. The M2 CD feels very durable, suggesting it will continue to perform well for years to come. The soft-feed CD changer may look unusual, but it minimizes vibration inside and outside the mechanism for improved performance.
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Speaking of which, the Roksan delivers a somewhat smooth, rich balance that exhibits some of the most enjoyable performance we've heard at this price point. Yes, this Roksan will fix the smallest details. Yes, he conveys the meaning of the music perfectly, but most importantly, he will get the most out of any recording you give him.
This CD player doesn't have digital inputs or streaming capabilities, but it plays CDs better than similarly priced competitors.
Marantz CD6006 UK Edition (Japan)
Price: $700
It's fair to say that the Marantz CD6006 UK Edition dominates the entry-level market, or at least until the CD6007 arrived. This CD player has a modest style and offers not only plenty of detail, but also tight, powerful sound. Its durable design, easy-to-use controls, and quality build give it the look and sound of a CD player that costs significantly more than its competitors.
No wonder he received several awards. Overall, we found this to be an excellent player, with an additional USB input allowing you to connect Apple products and USB drives. In our experience, to get a real leap in sonic performance, you need to upgrade to a Cyrus CDi or Naim CD5si.
Good deal? This is a very good deal.
conclusions
The Denon is dry and analytical, gets tired quickly, but it has a good punch, and in general the player delivers midrange and male vocals well. I think this sound is ideal for dance music.
Pioneer lacks resolution, but is much more musical, emotional and involving. Good discs sound more interesting on it, although with a loss of resolution.
Both devices are, of course, a compromise. Personally, I preferred vintage - the nostalgic look and soft, sweet delivery are closer to me than the attack and analytical nature of modernity.
Quad Artera Play+ (England)
Price: $2000
To call the Artera Play+ Quad just a CD player would underestimate its true capabilities. It has analog, digital and Bluetooth aptX inputs. Just add a power amplifier and good speakers to complete the system.
This is a stylish device that looks elegant and is very well made. Inside you'll find a very decent ESS Saber ES9018 DAC. This chip allows the device to work with almost any file format, from 32-bit/384 kHz PCM to 256 DSD. The sound is detailed and energetic, yet presented in a relaxed and sophisticated manner.
If you only need a CD player, then it's better to choose something more worthwhile on this list. But if you're looking for versatility as well as Bluetooth streaming, you won't find anything that comes close to the Quad Artera Play+.
Musical Fidelity M2sCD (England)
Price: $950
The M2sCD is the company's most affordable CD player, ranking below the M3 and M6. Although the player originally retailed for $1,100, some retailers are now offering it at a lower price, putting it in an advantageous position compared to the Marantz, on the one hand, and the Cyrus CDi and Quad models, on the other.
There are no complex functions. Its design is sleek and stylish, with RCA and coaxial outputs, but no digital ones. This is a player with a built-in 24-bit Delta-Sigma differential DAC.
The main focus is on refined and pleasant musical presentation. For those who love smooth, musical, elegant and very pleasant sound, this is a good offer, easily surpassing cheaper models in terms of volume and clarity of sound.
Receivers
Denon RCD-M41
This equipment can be used not only to play sound from CDs or mp3 discs, but also to work with one linear input, as well as two optical ones, and there is also a built-in radio receiver. Quite a large set of functions for a device belonging to the budget class. It is quite natural that there are several options for connecting the product to an external source of both digital and analog signals. In addition, the receiver has a Bluetooth module, which is complemented by A2DP, which allows you to play music from your mobile device while continuing to actively use it.
The power outputs in this equipment operate on the basis of discrete transistors, but they are designed only for the right and left channels. It is possible to connect a subwoofer, but its output is linear, so only an active device will be suitable, or you will have to use an external amplifier. Each channel has a power of 30 W.
Advantages:
- Excellent sound quality;
- There is support for playback via Bluetooth, and the sound delay will be minimal;
- There is an output for connecting a subwoofer.
Flaws:
- Port missing
Denon RCD-M41
Cambridge Audio One
The developers of this equipment managed to create a single receiver for all occasions. The drive for working with disks here is of a slot type - consumers say that this is far from the best and most reliable solution, but it operates quite quietly even during spin-up, the device does not vibrate at all due to its significant mass and the presence of anti-slip feet. There is also a function for transferring tracks via Bluetooth. The receiver is capable of working with a docking station designed to connect an iPod.
There are also a lot of connectors and ports here: there are linear inputs, optical inputs, and two sockets for connecting USB devices. One of them is designed to work with gadgets, and you can even charge them through it; through the second you can connect a personal computer, turning the receiver into an external audio card. The power of each channel is 30 W. For use at home, this indicator will be more than enough.
Advantages:
- Very wide functionality;
- There is a possibility of direct connection to a personal computer;
- A significant number of connectors;
- Good sound power.
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Flaws:
- It will not be possible to work with either an active or a passive subwoofer.
Cambridge Audio One
Onkyo CR-N775D
Like the developers of the previous model, the creators of this miracle of technology decided to fill it with the maximum number of functions. In particular, there is support for the following sound formats, cloud services and playback technologies: FLAC, Spotify, AirPlay, Play-Fi, Chromecast and the like. It is quite natural that there is also an optical drive, and of very high quality. It works absolutely quietly, does not scratch discs, and plays songs with minimal delay.
Power outputs can provide up to 40 W of power per channel. The sound is perfectly designed, no distortion was detected, especially if, together with the receiver, it was possible to select the optimal acoustics.
Advantages:
- The device supports absolutely all modern features directly related to sound and playback quality;
- The converter is characterized by a very high sampling frequency, which reaches 768 kHz.
Flaws:
- In some cases, it happens that the upper part of the range falls off a little.
Onkyo CR-N775D
Magnat MC 100
Despite the fact that today this company is widely known as a manufacturer of speaker systems for cars, it continues to develop and produce fairly high-quality products for home use. The presented model is a very interesting receiver design, which is characterized by the presence of significant functionality. The device is capable of transmitting music via Bluetooth to a device, for example, a wireless speaker. The sound is reproduced using the highest quality digital-to-analog path; it can be played through linear or digital inputs.
There is a USB connector, but next to it you can find the words Update Only, so you cannot connect flash drives of various kinds there, since the slot is intended exclusively for updating software. The sound quality is very decent, although this receiver has much less capabilities for working with high-quality content.
Advantages:
- AptX support available;
- Good sound quality;
- Optimal assembly;
- Can be synchronized with wireless speakers.
Flaws:
- No FLAC support.
Magnat MC 100
T+A Music Player Balanced
This product belongs to the premium receiver class, and therefore is characterized by a very high cost. The device is often used as a very high-quality external digital-analog amplifier. This allows you to work with it not only as a music player in CD format, but also while playing streaming content. You can connect absolutely any USB storage device to this device, including external hard drives.
It is quite natural that the presented design is characterized by the most balanced sound, in which no emphasis is placed either on embellishing certain moments of the compositions, or on highlighting a specific range. The optical drive operates absolutely silently, the product itself is housed in a reliable aluminum case, has a decent weight, so it does not vibrate at all during operation.
Advantages:
- Very wide functionality;
- Beautifully crafted sound quality;
- Ideally selected components;
- The housing is reliably protected from dust;
- The device is capable of working even with streaming content.
Flaws:
- It's very expensive.
T+A Music Player Balanced
Technics SL-G700 (Japan)
Price: $3200
CD, SACD, Bluetooth and network streaming: this is the player of the 21st century. From an ergonomic point of view, there is no arguing here. The control precision and smooth operation of the disc tray are top notch, even if it's a little pressed to the side for aesthetic reasons.
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This CD player is delicate enough to convey the full emotional impact of the vocal chords, and is accompanied by enough bass to support the majesty of the compositions. Smooth and harmonious, feature-rich and fun: if you want a high-quality turntable that covers all the possibilities, the Technics SL-G700 is a great choice.
Audio Research Reference CD9 SE (USA)
Price: $15000
With its top-loading design and tube amplifier, the CD9 SE is a real steal. Inputs are limited to 24-bit/192kHz at best, and DSD isn't even available, but for CD audio it's an extremely good performance and sets a very high standard for players.
Of course, you'll need a high-end system to truly appreciate its talents, but the stereo image quality is excellent, with enough spatial awareness to give recordings a sense of scale. The Audio Research Reference CD9 SE has a well-balanced tonal balance, which helps create a premium and highly transparent sound. This is a good choice for those who still like CDs.
Onkyo C-N7050
This Onkyo model is not only a CD player, but also a network music player, and it's good at both.
Characteristics
Type: integrated | Outputs: digital optical and coaxial, analog RCA | Dimensions: 10.2 x 43.5 x 30.2 cm | Weight: 6.4 kg
BEHIND
- Dynamic and lively sound
- High detail
- Tonal balance
Against
- Limited app availability
- Not the clearest display
The Onkyo C-N7050 has very high potential. There aren't many models on the market capable of playing CDs and streaming, much less so affordable. As a rule, the price of such components individually starts from 30,000 rubles, so this system turns out to be a very attractive option for newcomers to the world of Hi-Fi.
You can connect Onkyo to your home network via the Ethernet interface. It quickly connects to it and easily recognizes all connected devices.
Onkyo supports a wide range of formats - from MP3 and AAC to FLAC and WAV with up to 24-bit/192 kHz sampling, as well as ALAC up to 96 kHz and even DSD. The C-N7050 has a crisp, smooth sound with well-defined contours. Onkyo is not picky about file types; The smooth tonal character allows you to get the most out of low-bitrate MP3s, but thanks to its transparency, the difference in sound compared to 24-bit/192kHz FLAC will be clearly audible.
Marantz SA-10 (Japan)
Price: $8000
If price is not a factor and sound quality is your goal, then the Marantz SA-10 may be the best CD player for you. This impressive-looking “box” can handle almost anything you want. This applies to SACD and FLAC, DSD128, ALAC, AIFF and MP3 files.
The Marantz SA-10 delivers impressive sound quality with incredible attention to detail. We were impressed by the way Marantz interpreted instrumental textures and the subtlety with which it tracked small dynamic changes.
The remote control looks sleeker than most high-end players. The Marantz SA-10 is a great choice and one of the best turntables you can find.
Selection principles: what to look for
Technical indicators are the first thing you need to familiarize yourself with before purchasing such equipment. This will allow you to sensibly assess the quality of a particular model, and then compare it with others. Often the main parameters are considered:
- Type of supported formats. Now a large number of manufacturers produce “omnivorous” products that support almost all types of formats. However, do not forget that “sophisticated” gadgets are much more expensive than standard ones. Not everyone can afford an expensive purchase, so you should carefully study the column where the relevant information is provided.
- What types of CD media are supported. Here it is better to give preference to equipment that recognizes the greatest variety of options.
- Maximum power. The volume of a device depends entirely on its output power. Therefore, for those who like to listen to music at high volumes, it is recommended to pay attention to products with a power of at least 12 W.
- Additional functions. A bonus option is the presence of a remote control in the set. With its help, you can use the device at a set distance. Users appreciated another innovation – compatibility with headphones.
But even experienced buyers who know about all the above nuances cannot always choose a truly high-quality product. This is where the rating comes to the rescue, where the best models over the past year are collected according to real buyers.
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Cambridge Audio CXC (England)
Price: $600
Cambridge Audio is an affordable way to listen to CDs in superb quality, with all the benefits of an external D/A converter. But you will need your own DAC.
The CXC is limited in one thing - it only plays CDs, not SACDs or MP3s - but it does it very well. It's also a well-made CD player, with a metal body that feels durable and a design that matches the rest of Cambridge's CX range.
If you already have an external DAC, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Cambridge CXC over a separate CD player. You'll have to spend over $600 to match the sound quality it offers.
Cyrus CD t (England)
Price: $1000
The Cyrus CD t is one of the best CD readers, regardless of price. It's a CD transport, not a CD player, which means it simply reads the data from the CD. A separate DAC is needed for digital-to-analog conversion.
Cyrus Servo Evolution disc playback software inherited from the CD xt, combined with an improved internal chip, delivers performance that's hard to beat. The sound features nuances and subtle dynamics, as well as deep bass with a variety of textures.
The die-cast aluminum body is built to last, and the backlit remote control lets you enjoy it all from the comfort of your chair. Connectivity is best described as "minimal", with two digital outputs - optical and coaxial - and standard MC-BUS control connections. If you have a good DAC or are willing to invest in one, then the CD t is a decent device for the money.
Chord Blu MkII
Chord's upsampling CD transport paired with the right DAC sounds fantastic, even for such a high price.
Characteristics
Type: transport | Outputs: AES, BNC S/PDIF | Dimensions: 9.85 x 33.35 x 14.2 cm | Weight: 7 kg
BEHIND
- Amazing meticulousness and cleanliness
- Workmanship
- Frequency increase
Against
- Not always easy to use
- Price
If you demand only the best for yourself, the Chord Blu MkII CD transport is the logical choice. The design and construction are amazing, and the brushed metal finish looks very stylish. The build quality matches the player's other strengths, including radically higher sampling rates. When playing CDs, Blu boosts the frequency to 705.6 kHz, and when receiving a 48 kHz signal from an external source, it tops out at 768 kHz. CD resampling is nothing new, but the Blu MkII does it carefully and accurately, without compromising rhythmic drive or dynamic expression one iota.
When paired with a suitable DAC - such as the excellent DAVE from the same manufacturer - the Blu MkII produces remarkably balanced and textured sound. The voices perfectly combine weight, warmth and, when necessary, power. All individual instrument parts are precisely placed on the spacious music stage.
Quality comes at a price - but those who think all CD transports sound the same are in for a revelation. The Blu MkII produces the most informative and enjoyable sound we've heard from a CD.
Cyrus CD Xt Signature (England)
Price: $2400
For the price, you get what you'd expect from the Cyrus CD Xt Signature, which is clean, crisp, crystal clear sound. Improvements in the power supply and electrical noise levels make this the ultimate CD transport. Cyrus even claims its software delivers 20% fewer disk read errors than the best OEM alternative.
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The construction is solid and well made, although it doesn't feel as premium as you'd expect for the money. The level of audio detail and crisp precision that reveals every subtlety is very impressive. The Signature sounds cleaner, crisper and even more dynamic than its predecessor.
Delivering the performance you expect at twice the price, the CD Xt Signature is a leader in its class. If you want to hear how good your CDs can sound and are willing to plug in your own DAC, this is a great buy.
Philips CD104: the most inexpensive
An entire article was also devoted to this budget and attractive device of the second generation of Philips CD players. In it you can read about all the good things associated with the CD104, but now it’s time to compare this model with its predecessors.
If it were a competition based on quality/price ratio, the CD104 would win a landslide. But we are not interested in relative, but in absolute indicators. And here we must admit that the device is still slightly inferior to the two previous devices of the first generation Philips, giving a less refined signature at the upper frequencies.
It's difficult to say why this is so. After all, in terms of measurements these are quite similar devices, and the main elements remain the same. Did the TDA1540P in plastic have worse tolerances than the TDA1540D in ceramic? Did the CDM-1's enhanced servo system improve disc readability at the same time as it lost musicality relative to the more capricious CDM-0?
But all this criticism of the sound in relation to the CD104 is possible only in a head-to-head comparison with its predecessors. When switched on by itself, the little Philips CD104 will raise more than one eyebrow.
Luxman D-10X (Japan)
Price: $16500
This is a 22.4 kg beast that plays SACD/CD. The Luxman D-10X's body is very durable, with thick aluminum plates and heavy-duty internal bracing. This gives you confidence in use and gives the impression that this CD player was built to last for generations to come.
Look inside and you'll find the brand's latest internal drive, the LxDTM-i. The MUS-IC BD34301EKV digital-to-analog converter chip is considered a cutting-edge design, and the technical specifications certainly back it up: support for 32-bit/768 kHz PCM and 22.4 MHz DSD. MQA is also present, which is welcome.
The sound presentation is characterized by incredible authenticity, a sea of small details and impressive sound pressure. The stereo image is flawless and clear, regardless of the complexity of the track. This is not a player that sweetens recordings to make them sound better than they actually are.
Comparison table of technical characteristics
Today's rating includes a number of the following models:
| Model | Standards support | Exits | Bit depth |
| Onkyo C-7030 | MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear, optical, coaxial, headphones | 24 bit |
| Denon DCD-720AE | MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear, optical, headphones | 32 bit |
| Pioneer PD-50 | SACD, MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear, optical, coaxial | 32 bit |
| YAMAHA CD-S700 | MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear, optical, coaxial | 24 bit |
| Rega Apollo | MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear, optical, coaxial | 24 bit |
| Marantz CD5004 | MP3, WMA, CD-Text, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear, optical, coaxial, headphones | 24 bit |
| Densen BEAT-420 | SACD, MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD | linear | 24 bit |
Each product is described in detail below.
Cambridge Audio AXC35 (England)
Price: $350
Priced at just $350, the AXC35 CD player is equivalent in cost to two players in this affordable Cambridge range. The main difference is a coaxial output, but there is no optical or USB output (for connecting Apple products or USB drives).
However, the sound is good. It has a lot of volume, a lot of subtlety and a good degree of dynamic flexibility. The minimalist design is slim and elegant, and it comes with a functional remote control with a matrix display.
Overall, this simple CD player justifies its place on our list of the best CD players. However, it's up against the truly excellent Marantz CD6006 UK Edition, which sounds better in every way and has the benefit of a USB input. But if you prefer the thin, sleek design of the CD AXC35, then this device is a very worthy proposition.
