$500-$1000 to spend on a used CD player

Hey Buconero!

You keep mentioning that Sony refurb, but it's been out of stock for what seems like ages. Any chance you know anything about how frequently they become available?

Regarding the Oppo BDP-83SE. Is it really that good of a CD player? I am always under the opinion that a CD player should play CD's well. I guess I am suspicious of the sound quality due to the fact that it is also a DVD player and a BluRay player. Also without being able to listen to the Oppo I would be nervous about purchasing it new sight unseen. Is the sabre DAC on the Oppo worth the extra $400.00 over the BDP-83 for $500? I could buy a pretty good DAC for the extra $400. I thought if I bought a used player off of Audiogon sight unseen and I decided that I didn't like it I could sell it for close to what I payed for it due to the fact that I bought it used.

There is a Resolution Audio CD-55 for $775 just listed. Excellent player at that price.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1288189439&/Resolution-Audio-CD55-trade-?-

without being able to listen to the Oppo I would be nervous about purchasing it new sight unseen.

FWIW, the Oppo should be easy to sell if you don't like it. The 83 and 83SE both have incredible resale value. The only thing you risk losing is not being able to hear it in your system ;~}

If what you really want is a dedicated player, the Naim CD5x is superb, and you can find amazing deals used (there's one listed now for $950; I have no relation to the seller). I had a Music Hall cd25.2, which is excellent -- very transparent and clear. In my system, the Naim is better than the MH in every respect (as one would hope given that it listed for 4-5 times the price), especially on recordings with mediocre sound quality. If resale is a concern, though, you'd likely be better off with the Oppo (which I haven't heard). Used prices on cd players seem to be plummeting (for obvious reasons).