Garn509
If as you say, there are two dealers in your area that together sell NAD, MH, and Marantz
sheeshhh.
Ask to take one home for a weekend, provided its run in already, and see for yourself, then another, then another! Then buy one.
That dog probably aint going to hunt for you though, right? No home demos? No returns either?
Thems your options for first hand testing . Or you can mule in your other pieces to the dealer and try that deal.
Uh oh you wanna buy used, not new. Right? So OK shoot me.
Then its just which type of chocolate you want.
As for multi format plaers mentioned here . I have two. Both opos. just because they play more than SACD & CDs, doesnt mean you have to put those types of discs into it. Nor does it mean that those disc players which play ONLY CD & or SACD, are better.
I had a $3K Sony CDP a while back. Got the $175 oppo. The Sony was better indeed. How much? Not a lot. New tech? probably. The 980 oppo came likely to about 85% maybe 90% of the Sonys performance level . Give or take a tad.
Build quality? Sony. Hands down! Quality pieces do last and are great means to ends. Digital changes mighty fast though.
Id take that $300 and get a used 980 for about $100. Save up another couple bills and find me a Bel Canto DAC 1 or the like and do it.
For a vivid CDP a strong voiced box, Sony is really tuff to beat. Ive read here though that the Reggas are strong, NAD to me is simply a value item with performance over its head usually. An over achiever. Marantz might be the more polite sounding of the bunch. Music hall?? Beats me completely, Im no help there.
If youve a NAD INT GET THE NAD. IF NOT, GET THE LATEST VER OF THE REGGA.
When ya find out you dont like which ever, sell it and buy the other one and increase your feedback in the doing!
That was easy huh?