hello guys,
I am new to the forum, but there are a few abstract assumptions in this forum that I do not understand.Modern CD players essentially read binary data burnt onto a plastic disc which is then converted to a musical/analogue signal via a DAC adaptor. Most high end players source their laser pickups from mass suppliers (i.e. Rega uses sony, etc). The DAC convertors are pretty standardized too (Burr-Brown etc). So that leaves you with esoteric abstract issues like power supplies, chassis stability, etc. Given the huge range of equipment out there, I would advise anyone to certainly choose their pre-amp/power amps and speakers first. Spend most of your money on Speakers. The final item should be the source (CDP) nowadays, unlike in the past, where their was a huge difference b/w a Nakamichi Dragon in comparison to a Teac or Akai cassette deck, and it made sense to start with the best source one could afford. A lot of audiophiles may disagree, but I'd say start with the stats and the numbers. They do not lie. And then do a comparison b/w $200 and $5000 players with approximately the same numbers. Listening preferences differ hugely, and terms like warmth tonality rhythm and musicality etc mean different things to different people. My wife prefers chocolate and I love vanilla.
I firmly believe in the law of diminishing returns. If a $40,000 Corvette gives you the same acceleration and roadholding as a $170,000 Ferrari Modena, that does not mean they are mutually exclusive. A Ferrari buyer also goes for the name, style, history and cache of the car. But the Corvette buyer is the "smarter" investor in terms of the dollar value of the equation. With CD players only you will listen to your choices for most of their lifespan.
And only your opinion matters. Audition cheap as well as expensive. And go with what makes the most sense to you.
