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Best Sounding CD / SACD player under 15K

My budget is 15K for a new or preowned CD/SACD player.

Not happy with the McIntosh MCD-500 player. My vintage Denon CD player out performs it. I was very disappointed in the McIntosh MCD500 player. I had the McIntosh MC601 amps and they were disappointing too. No more McIntosh gear for me.

I am on the market now and would like to keep under 15K for a new or preowned CD player. Also no multi format players .

Thanks for any suggestions.
joefama
kiwi_1282001
310 posts
 
Hi Milpai,

I have heard the Esoteric K-05 but not in my own system - so it is not possible to arrive at any meaningful comparison. From what I heard (at an audio show) the K-05 seemed competent but of course I was listening to it as part of an unfamiliar system.

The K-05 does usefully sport a 192 kHz/24-bit asynchronous DAC via USB.
jymc
27 posts
 
Joefama - what is your beef with Mac brand? I've been kicking around idea of MC601s with either a C500 or C1000 pre. They're within my price point but it's the great customer service that Mac offers that is pushing me in that direction. Maybe I'm snake bit since I was using Rowland amps and pre and essentially there is NO customer service, with Jeff Rowland wearing all the hats and being stretched very thin.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,033 posts
 
EMMLabs CDSA-SE
Very interesting unit, right from Tone, excellent Soundstage and it doesn't make you cry while listening. I bought it.
bayreuth
25 posts
 
Cary 306 Pro sounds excellent. Versatile, well built, playback of CD/HDCD/SACD and works well as DAC.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
5,112 posts
 
Chesebert...just wondering if you heard the Ayre with balanced connections, do you remember the cables and if it sat on a resonance gizmo - Ayre/Cardas blocks, etc. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but your comment is a head scratcher to me.
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