Grizzly Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 I'm preemptively resigning myself to my Vimak being as unreliable as it was made out to be, so I figured it would be a good time to get some ideas of what I could look out for as a suitable budget replacement. Ideally I'd like something with a similar presentation to the Vimak and a Naim CDX2 I had on loan for a while (which is for sale but sadly way outside my budget). I know they're big shoes to fill but you never know what you may uncover unless you start digging, right? Suggestions please? Even offers would be welcome though I'm unsure of my buying timeframe right now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 NAD C542. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
was_a Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 (edited) Rega Apollo s/h. FAR better than anything in its price category. Edited February 14, 2019 by was_a 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Apparently the Rotel RCD990 is a good one. Anyone have a spare one lying around? Just so happens I have a NOS CDM9Pro mechanism as well so any other players that fit the brief and use this drive would be at the top of the list! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 NAD C542.They are very nice, had one 10 or so years back in Darwin. Another would be just fine! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Rega Apollo s/h. FAR better than anything in its price category. I've not heard a bad word said about Regas CD players. Worth investigating, thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimbo Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 20 hours ago, Grizzly said: Apparently the Rotel RCD990 is a good one. Anyone have a spare one lying around? Just so happens I have a NOS CDM9Pro mechanism as well so any other players that fit the brief and use this drive would be at the top of the list! Didnt think about the RCD990. Should also be on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 G'day all, based on personal experience, another heartfelt recommendation for the NAD's. Regards, Felix. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McP Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 check out 2ndh TDA1541 based players Marantz CD40, 50, 60, 75, 80, 94 Rotel RCD 955 especially Lampizator's thoughts and mods on various models http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/CD_ALPHABETICAL.html http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/TDA1541 corner/TDA1541.html https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/20507-cd-players-tda1541a-dac-4.html < Marantz CD40 TDA1541 Marantz CD50 TDA1541 Marantz CD56 TDA1541 Marantz CD60 TDA1541 Marantz CD65 TDA1541 Marantz CD80 TDA1541 Marantz CD94 TDA1541 Philips CD85M-NB TDA1541 Philips CD94M-NB TDA1541 Philips CDC586 TDA1541 Philips CD350 TDA1541 Philips CD360 TDA1541 Philips CD371 TDA1541 Philips CD373 TDA1541 Philips CD380 TDA1543, TDA1541, TDA1541A Philips CD460 TDA1541 Philips CD465 TDA1541 Philips CD471 TDA1541 Philips CD472 TDA1541 Philips CD473 TDA1541 Philips CD580 TDA1541 Philips CD581 TDA1541 Philips CD582 TDA1541 Philips CD630 27bit/4* or TDA1541 Philips CD640 TDA1541 Philips CD650 TDA1541 Philips CD782 TDA1541 Philips CD820 TDA1541 Philips CD850 TDA1541 Philips CD880 TDA1541 Philips CD960 TDA1541 Aristona CD1380 TDA1543, TDA1541, TDA1541A Rotel RCD855 TDA1541 Rotel RCD820 TDA1541 Sony CDP-M95 TDA1541 Sony CDP-750 TDA1541 Sony CDP-950 TDA1541 Cambridge Audio CD3 TDA1541 Proton AC300-II TDA1541 Orelle CD100 TDA1541 Revox B226 TDA1541 Sudgen CDT1 TDA1541 some more: Adcom GCD575 Cambridge CD1 Cambridge CD2 Grundig CD903II McIntosh MCD7007 Mission PCM4000 Naim CD1 Naim CD3 Philips CD80 Quad 66 Rotel 955 Sony 337ESD Sudgen Masterclass Sudgen SDT-1 Marantz CD67 Marantz CD85 (not sure about the last two) alessandro Add to the list Marantz CD-75 MKII. It sports a TDA1541A. > regards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
was_a Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I agree these are fabulous as transports, but that's only half the battle. Most of these DAC stages are rather primitive in their stock form. Mids and treble are rather blunt in sound. For a $400 budget getting a modded one might be ambitious. Sorry, NAD folks, I've had a few and they're fine 'for the money' but their modern CD players are pretty forward sounding and a little thin up top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willco Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I'd Add Micromega Stage to that list Willco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelw Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 $400 ? an oppo or cambridge audio universal disk player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 11 minutes ago, michaelw said: $400 ? an oppo or cambridge audio universal disk player. I only require RBCD capability and am quite happy to entertain used gear in decent condition. This whole R2R business has me intrigued so something with those fancy PCM1704 or 1702 or similar would be high on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattjtaylor2809 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I'd be looking at updating your DAC & buying a descent transport. The OPPO idea is a good one as they're pretty good as a transport & you can also use it for Blu-rays, DVD's for Rach & Gracie. Alternatively, look at the AudioLab 8200 series CD/DAC.....not sure whether the DAC is better than your TEAC but in combination, it could be a winner. My 2 bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat-with-one-t Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) I bought a Denon dcd3000 for less than your budget, and it’s magnificent to my ears and system, and I use the dac via digital-in to stream from an old phone.... Edited February 15, 2019 by Mat-with-one-t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chigurh Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Arcam CD17 I have one, pretty much like new. It's been sitting in it's box for the past 4 years. Price negotiable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willmax Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Another vote to Oppo players, they are very versatile and built to last, BDP-95 is spot on your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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