Were to go after a Rega Planet 2000?

Nickway:

The small signal tubes in tube preamps and tube DAC's typically cost +/-$10 each. I think there are two tubes in the output stage of the Sonic Frontiers CD player I mentioned. But let's assume there are four. That's about $50 to retube the CD player.

Even if you use the component in what I believe is the wrong way, which is to not leave it powered up 24/7 and turn it on and off for each listening session, you would probably get at least a year out of the tubes. Keep it powered up 24/7 and you will likely never lose a tube. Yes, I know that leaving tube gear powered up 24/7 is believed to wear out tubes. My position on this issue was expressed clearly in the following threads (I believe it is one of the biggest myths in audio):

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1092946488&openfrom&1&4#1

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1088580687&openfrom&1&4#1

If you were running tube monoblock amps with a lot of output tubes, then, yes, you would be in for a big tube bill one day. But with tube preamps and tube DAC's, unless you have to have expensive new-old stock tubes and you try to save tube life by regularly powering the component up and down (the tube equivalent of the "bleedings" that 19th Century doctors gave to their patients), tube cost will be a non-issue.

Returning to the issue of what CD player to buy at your budget, I do believe that that Sonic Frontiers unit is extremely competitive for the money. The Naim units mentioned are excellent, too, but my experience is that that are merely ordinary unless you use them with one of the expensive Naim power supplies, which takes them way out of your budget.

R32657, did you come to the conclusion more expensive players are not worth it? Sometimes I think this. Please elaborate if you can.

Nickway, try audio asylum. There's a guy over there with the same issue. heheehheee.

I'm another person who went from the Planet 2000 to the Jupiter 2000, and I think it is just great. I had a chance to A/B them both in my system, and there is a marked difference. The Jupiter is cleaner and more detailed, but yet has the same generic sound of the Planet.

I would say as a blanket that that's the case, but in my experience, some of the most disappointing stuff as been the really expensive. Case in point, a few years back i auditioned a Krell player/preamp that was about 9-12k, I forget. But it was very underwealming for the price. Revox was another brand that I thought was going to be great, but in the end, same let down.The old Proceed had a hard sound to it. I do like the wadia stuff, the NAD silver player and meridian player. I have not listened to a whole lot of other stuff. But for me, since I have way to many hobbies, I try and get the bast bang for the buck, not something that may be incrementaly better, but priced way out there. The only problem with the 502 is that the display likes to burn out it's bulb.

I have had so many CD & SACD players I can't remember them all. Many of which have been mentioned here. I bought the Quad 99 CD-P last summer to go with my all Quad system. This is far and away the best CD player I have owned, and a bargain to boot. The many rave reviews it has garnered are for once justified!

$1500 new, about a grand used, and worth every penny!