What makes a Cd player a Great cd player

Someone recently made an excellent analogy in another thread that I believe applies here. Discussion about this kind of thing only goes so far, and ultimately, it's unconvincing to many.

The person in the other thread wrote:

05-31-10: Wireless200
Why don't more people know the difference between freshly picked peaches, blueberries, rasberries, strawberries and grocery store bought. They just don't know any better.

The point here being, until you've heard a great CD player versus a good CD player, you really won't know the possibilities.

Ddan6815, thanks for revealing your bias early in the thread. While you initially appeared to be asking an open ended question, your last post reveals that you aren't as open to possibilities as your original posts suggests.

Your latest post also indicates that you didn't accept the point I made....that of not knowing what you don't know until you've heard a truly great CD player. To me, the history you mention with a Marantz CD player and one additional un-named CD player do not seem thorough enough to have experienced the possibilities. Or, maybe my viewpoint is unfair because you've listened to a dozen top CD players and didn't mention doing so.

If the overall point you are trying to make is that the differences among CD players can be subtle, then I agree. However, each person's definition of the word subtle varies considerably in this pasttime. One man's subtle difference can be another man's "jaw dropping", Ah-ha! moment.

Ddan6815, lots more info about what you're looking for in your most recent post. That's significantly more helpful.

...given your recent system description, I agree with you that spending $2-$3k on a speaker and/or amplification upgrade would yield more significant improvement than would a $2-$3k CD player.

I'm with Grannyring. I appreciated the benefits of vinyl, but a couple of years into my re-emersion into vinyl, I found my turntable was sitting idle 90% of the time. I preferred the ease and absolute quiet of digital, and I eventually sold the analog rig with no regrets.

06-02-10: Almarg

2)It is well established that very low level high frequency hiss, such as lp surface noise, can result in a subjective perception of enhanced air and ambiance.

Really? Fist time I've read this.

Maybe I should get a high frequency hiss module to add to my system for that added sense of air and ambience...

:) J.

Most audiophile components endeavor to accurately reproduce the recording. Many recordings of jazz sax have an edge or bite because the instrument itself has an edge or bite depending how it's played.

If you want your system to smooth out what's on the recording, then I believe it's going to be difficult to find that characteristic in an audiophile component. Member Mrtennis has been looking for this unsuccessfully for years...and he became a reviewer to gain access to hearing more gear.

Have you considered adding an equalizer (help me...the blasphemy!)?