Recommendations for CD Player/DAC Combo

Stretch your budget to a pre-owned REGA ISIS Valve cdp/DAC?

There was much more choice as recently as two years ago.  The precipitous decline in CD sales is one reason that manufacturers stopped making them.  The other is that Oppo really dominated that market niche, and their decision to pull out left a void.
   At your budget the best option would be a dedicated transport and DAC, such as the Cambridge Audio transport That goes for around $500 combined with DACs from the likes of Mytek, Benchmark, Schitt and others that sell for around 2K.  You could also use something like a Blu Rayor DVD as a CD transport.  Sony Blu Rays can be had for under $100 and are very slim, if space is a consideration.
  Sony makes a Universal disc spinner for around $400 that plays everything and has gotten decent reviews.  I think it’s DAC can be accessed.  There is a Marantz SACD/CD player four around 2 K that I think has an accessible DAC

I would say buy just the DAC. and as mahler 123 mentioned , go for dedicated DAC and spinner separates.
And stick to used CD spinners for the spinner. I bought an expensive SACD/DAC but really to 'save' the built in spinner and use cheap spinners I bought used. Schiit Yggdrasil is under your price point, plus money for a spinner. And a cheaper used spinner, you will not be crying as much if it breaks. Unlike the current typical five years out no parts no fix for 99% of all CD players (including big buck ones) anyway. Oddly there ARE some old players that just never quit. Unlike most of their counterparts.

Why would anyone buy an expensive CD player and just use the dac portion with a cheap player.?  It’s like buying a Corvette and putting retread tires on it.  I have an 8.5K Esoteric SACD Player which I use daily and wouldn’t think of attaching a cheap player to it.  Of course Esoteric builds their own transports was Which in my case is the VRDS NEO transport and they don’t wear out.  To each his/ her own but you are defeating the purpose of superior sound.  What are you saving the transport for and when do you feel it will be ok to use if ever?

Like Liz I use a cheap spinner(s) plugged into my Marantz' DAC. The reason is simple - My system operates all day but I only listen to it critically for a few hours in the evening. Why burn up a built in spinner for 'background' music? It has two inputs - one I use for a 6 CD player and one for a 1 CD player. Works for me.

Agree with newbee. those are exactly the reasons. BTW the cheap changers I use sound pretty good. You just have to find the right ones that sound good via digital out. Who cares what they sound like analog out.I am retired and listen to music all day every day.. using up $40 changers (which btw last for many years ,even running all day every day) is a no brainer. Plus I can load five discs and play for hours... And like newbee, I also have a separate single disc player via SPDIF when I want that.

@stereo5 

one reason to have more expensive spinner is feature set.  I used my Oppo 105 as my everything, including DAC, but eventually upgraded the DAC.  The Oppo was mainly a transport then but still came into use for SACD, DVD-A, usb drives and network use

@tyan42 I think there are more than you mention.  Nuprime and Denon certainly within your new price bracket, and Bryston, Hegel, and Primare just a little over it.  And that's without any research.

@mahler123...………………………………………….

Elizabeth has a new 10K Marantz SACD player and yet she is only using it as a dac to "save" the transport?  Save for what?  My reply was I have a 8.5K Esoteric player which I use everyday as a CD player.  Why wouldn't I use the entire player?   That is what I was driving at without naming names.  It's her business as to how she uses it but I don't see the logic.

I hope I have clarified things

stereo5, In the spirit you evince in making your comments about Liz’s use of her CDP, I can’t understand why you would be really spendy on your system yet place your speakers on the wall where, presumably, you will not hear  what your speakers were capable of had you paid more attention to your set up. Quite the contrary. I could bore you with detail about about proper set up but, hey, its your stuff, your room, and none of my business. If the sound you get makes you happy who am I to comment. But if I had to put my speakers on a wall, as you have, I wouldn’t have wasted my money on mine.

Liz, forgive me, I know you can speak for your self but, I assume, too polite to respond.

Thanks newbee. One point the so called "10K player is really $7,000. retail price. As for the rant by stereo5? I assume he thinks everyone HAS to be 'just like him'. As do lots of folks. I do not find any need whatsoever, to be just like him. So I did what i wanted to do. Amazing isn't it. Doing what I felt like doing, instead of what Mr  stereo5 tells me I 'must be doin'...  or ?? what 'his' personal  thought police will arrest me?

elizabeth-
You go girl.  Happy Listening!

@newbee ……………………

I own large floor standing speakers and they certainly are NOT mounted on the wall in either system.

For the rest of you:  "It's her business as to how she uses it but I don't see the logic."  That was my statement.   I never told her or anyone how to use it.   I stated how I use it and don't see her logic in the way she uses  the player.   As usual. you people are making something out of nothing.  I thought we all were allowed to express our opinion?

A used EAR Yoshiono Acute 3 is around the $3k budget.  The newest version Acute Classic is excellent, but a used one is above the $3k budget limit.  Probably around $4500 used.  The EAR is the best CD/DAC combo I've heard.  

Stereo5, Not ’mounted’ for sure I agree, but placed immediately in front of the wall for sure (for folks interested they can look at the pictures of your system which you have posted).

Other than the back injury you would have probably incurred had you mounted them on the wall, I’m not sure that there would be much sonic difference, on the floor or on the wall. :-) I pulled mine 66 inches out into the room and they are part of an (almost) equilateral triangle with my listening chair at the apex of the triangle (where else).

@newbee...……………………………..

Are you using the same speakers as I am? Before I bought them, I send Sandy Gross a picture of the room with the Triton Ones location and explained I would be putting the Triton References in the same spot. He said they would work fine and they so. Imaging is perfect. Unless you are using the same speakers, you really don’t know. Since it’s the living room I share with my wife, I had to make compromises. My wife has been very gracious about my stereo taking up half of the living room.   I just looked at the picture posted and need to update.  The speakers are much more toed in now than in that picture from 2017.  Funny thing is, GE recommends the speakers pointing almost straight ahead with perhaps only a couple of degrees of toe in!

While I could argue at some length about speaker placement (and set up) in general, and yours specifically, I see no reason to do so. You are happy, your wife is happy, you are listening to music you enjoy, not much else counts, does it. Peace.

On the Audiogon home page, in the Categories drop down list, click on Digital and then cd/sacd players. There are a number of cd players in your price range.

Bryston products are known for their durabillity. I can’t say for sure that applies to their cd players, but someone can probably advise you on that.

@newbee...…………..

Peace to you as well.

Getting back to subject of thread.

I had a Krell S350 CD player with built in DAC( think just 2 digital inputs).
I do remember it sounding very very good and built like a tank ( 45lb weight if my memory serves me).
However used only available but extremely well built and fairly priced.

Prior to that I had a dcs p8 CD/dac. Truly stunning and also could be used as a preamp.

There are a number of good used options out there.

You may not find too many affordable new options.

Now with that said I presently use an old Pioneer DVD/sacd player...lol.
Using it in analog output to my Ayre amp as sacd does not output from its spdif digital output. Just CD layer plays through the spdif output.

I use an old onkyo sacd /cd that has a wolfson dac which always  sounded pretty good. I also have an old pioneer dvd/sacd that has been in a closet for a few years it has a good sound as well I think it had wolfson. Only thing about the pioneer it took about an hour to load anything, well seemed like an hour. For less than  3k there is also rega, creek or nad you can get new as well as the ones already mentioned. 

Uber

I use a Pioneer Elite CD/DVD-A/SACD Player, vintage 2004, in my surround system, paired with a Pioneer Elite receiver that uses an “I link” to pair the two.  It’s a remarkably good system for “mid-Fi” gear.

@mahler123

Very impressed with mine and yes I read you could pair it with a Pioneer receiver and use one remote to control both. Mine is 2000 vintage.

When you say "spinners", are you just saying CD Transport?  Sorry, that's probably a dumb question. 

I guess all I saw were the advantages of the one unit CD/DAC, but I really hadn't considered all the other advantages of having "separates".  There's a lot to consider now that whole transport thing might be the best.    

OP

spinner could mean CD transport, or refer to a full CD Player.  It’s to distinguish from Computer Audio, although technically, some types of Hard Drives actually spin as well...
  More importantly, if you go the separate route, you will have a lot more options than sticking with a CD player availability .  And you will gain flexibility, because DACs can be used with other sources as Computers and potentially as streamers as well.

for most listening I use my main transport and DAC, but occasionally like to run my inexpensive changer through my DAC for extended casual listening...

@tyan42-- interesting perspective from today's vantage point, you said "It seems like building a cd player into a DAC makes a lot of sense, like an integrated amp...."
When the consumer products first hit the market, they were integrated. Today, it's like asking for " undecaffeinated" coffee. 
For what it's worth, after many years of this hobby, i am only now taking digital into my main system. Using a modest DAC, the Border Patrol, i first used an Oppo universal player as a transport, while awaiting a Redbook CD transport. The Redbook transport (the current, entry level CEC) sounds better. Not to diss Oppo- great product for the money. 

I have a ModWright OPPO 205 with the best tubes available, 1960's Philips Miniwatt D-getter, RCA rectifier with silver getter, and while this system is excellent nothing can really equal vinyl on a really good system. 

However if you can find a used OPPO ModWright with the right tubes
you will be well served.

"while this system is excellent nothing can really equal vinyl on a really good system. "

I agree 100%  My Technics SL1200G TT sounds better at half the price of my Esoteric UX-3 SACD player.  The TT just sounds right.

The the old vinyl is better than digital refrain.  Ugh.  When I listen to digital the music leaps out my speakers.  When I listen to an lp if sounds as if it is embedded in petroleum.

newbee,

"I pulled mine 66 inches out into the room and they are part of an (almost) equilateral triangle with my listening chair at the apex of the triangle (where else)."

The practical problem is that many people cannot pull speakers that much into the room. They do what they can, often not ideal. You are just lucky in that sense.

My highest recommendation would be to get a Audio Alchemy Dac/Pre (both sides are amazing) + a transport. I would order the NuPrime transport from audio Advisor (returnable, but I doubt you would)

for tyan42... Spinner can mean anything that can spin a CD. I use a lot of old full CD players only as a transport, taking the digital out and ignoring the players own decoding. A lot of old CD players have excellent transports and digital output.

any old CD players that you particularly recommend as transports elizabeth ? Thanks

I think any of the 90,s Japanese CD players that had a digital output would do the job if all you want is the transport side.
I know my 2000 Pioneer does sound real sweet as just a transport into my Brooklyn DAC but I stick to analog output from it simply for the SACD usage.
You should be able to pick up a decent Pioneer, Sony, Marantz etc for between $40 to $100 maximum and enjoy years of usage

jl35... Sorry, I do have a few I particularly enjoy. However making a specific recommendation would thus make the very ones I look for scarce and overpriced.SO I defer from any comment on my favorites.I agree with uberwaltz about just picking up a good name old and now cheap player..with digital out.

Understood. I’ll stick with my Integra  changer for now. 

You might also want to consider Naim Audio.  Their equipment sounds more natural than just about anything else.

If you fancy a bit of Tubey lovelyness try the line magnetic LM-515cd. One of the most satisfying CD players I’ve listened too and a great dac as well. Love mine.

If you can find, the Onkyo C-700R, CD player at under $2,000.00 is one of the best you'll find at anywhere near your price goal....Jim

Hello,I own a musical fidelity kw 25 dac and transport combo that I purchased from audio classics for 1500 dollars used retail at the time for7000 and never looked back.Wonderful sounding combo very fine sound and the option of tube or solid state output if you can find one used that would be in my opinion highly recommended.

In response to OP question, I have an Aesthetix Romulus Eclipse CD/DAC unit. I use the DAC to process signal from my media bridge streamer. I’m very happy w the SQ. I don’t play CDs as much as I stream, but I think there’s value in a quality transport to spin w/o jitter and in my case, the tubes add a lushness to the digital signal that I find appealing. 

A few years ago I bought a used Musical Fidelity M6CD with built-in DAC and it sounds wonderful coupled with my Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amp. Love it!

Over the last 15 years or so  my interest in CD music led to my searching for what I thought would be most likely to yield well engineered with a focus on quality construction, optimization of digital info,, etc.   at a reasonable  entry/mid  level price with results that would in the final analysis yield better results than current products which means of the last 20 yrs.   Vintage equipment so to speak.. From the 90's likely.   Enter Philips mechanisms--- CDM1 Mk ii  which can be found in a number of transports..  such as my Museatex  Melior CD-D  with the MK ii mechanism  -- this unit gone through by Stephen Sank.   I picked this up for a mere  300 dollars thereabouts  right here on the Gon.    My other transport is a PS Audio Lambda  (got here on the Gon as well)    with the Philips CDM9 pro which is arguably the last of the best Philips mechanisms.      Scoring one of these vintage decks that were made they way they were made at the time because it was possible to do so without high cost and without an excess of cheap components gives a certain satisfaction when I am using them.   My Dacs are more recent examples -- Burson DA-160 and a Metrum Octave mkii.  Some good info here on transports enabling to identify what company uses  what transport mechanism in their offerings.      Comparing and seeing what companies used what at what price point ,, etc.   
http://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/homepage/

Speaking of transports.  There is a Proceed PDT listed on here now.  it has the Philips CDM1 mk ii mechanism  and I recall an old Stereophile  review comparing a number of transports of which Proceed got high marks.  The PDT 2 & 3 while not having as low jitter as the PDT Stereophile says they sounded better.   Heres the very extensive review   https://www.stereophile.com/content/transport-delight-cd-transport-jitter-page-8

I use a Cambridge 851n streamer with built in DAC and preamp. Paired with a Cambridge Audio transport. Great combo. This setup is in my vintage system. Pioneer SX-1280, denon DP 62L, B&W 805S. 

Still hard to beat my old Sony PS3 used as transport into nad d3020 v2.
All PS3 were vastly over engineered and cost Sony a lot of dollars!

Most spinners only transport 16/44 signal, not hi res.
Even the new ones like the high and might Jay's CD Transport that is hyping on a nearby thread. 

Typically you have to pay a few grand even for a new or used proper SACD/CD Transport. No, I dont like the Oppo's. I had the 105. The transported signal was crap compared to my SimAudio CDP. But the PS3's, early version, can rip the SACDs.