Last cd player.

[wicklowboy]

My Arcam CD92 may have died. It had been acting/sounding strange for a while and is now just a mess of noise and static.
So I'm thinking about a new cd player. I'm not really considering computer based audio because try as I might I just can't make sense of anything that involves a computer.
My prime replacement candidate was the Bryston BCD-1 but then Bryston pulled the plug on that.
I really like the Roksan Caspian 2 but otherwise its pretty slim pickings. I need a cd player that 1-is musical
2-reliable
3-plays cd-r
4-doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
If you were picking your last last cd player what would you buy?

[Mike Osadciw]

I picked the ayre. They have some great cd players. I like the technology and their philosophy, and have never been disappointed.

[wicklowboy]

Forgot about Ayre. I heard some of their gear a few years ago and as I recall they were very good. Somehow they just slipped off my radar.
Thanks for the reminder.

[Suave]

Sorry to hear that your Arcam disc player died... Arcam actually makes some amazing sounding CD players (I own one myself) but given your experience it sounds like you'd like to go with a different brand.

What about something from Cambridge Audio or Rega? Both great brands and offer players in a wide range of price points

[SoundGame]

Then there is Oppo to consider, as well. I own a Rega Apollo but would have considered an Oppo or Cambridge if I was back in the market for a CDP. There are no more new Bryston BCD-1 (now out of production). All the best.

[wicklowboy]

I had considered Rega but there seems to be some questions regarding their reliability and quality control. That said I own a Cambridge Audio 540D dvd player. I tweaked it out a bit (upgraded cables and power cord plus added dampening) and its actually a passably good cd player.
I own an Oppo BDP 80 and in my opinion its excellent value and its video quality is first rate.
I haven't heard any of Arcams most recent players. If the sound is better than the CD92 (I think Ring DAC that they used in it is great) I'd be very interested.
Its getting hard to audition players as my preferred dealer is heavily in favour of computer based audio (mostly Linn) and I can't see my self buying a player without hearing it first.

[Spudso]

Wicklowboy - you mentioned that you own both Cambridge and Oppo players. Have you considered buying a good DAC and using one of those players as a transport?

[wicklowboy]

I had given it a little thought. Since the Oppo is intended just for video I never really considered it but I thought about adding a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic to the 540D but my dealer thought that I should go much higher (Bryston) with an eye to going computer based or at least adding a better transport later.
FWIW I do have about a thousand songs in iTunes (Apple Lossless format) that I'm going to put on an ipod someday soon.

[dakmart]

Wicklowboy -- that sounds like the best solution to me. Even if you still buy CDs, having all of your music in one place and being able to access that music anywhere in the house (if your server is part of your home network) is pretty cool!

[Pneumonic]

I'd go for an external DAC. Plenty more options available to you going external DAC route these days. You could also grab hold of an inexpensive, used CDP to use as a transport if need be. There are some killer deals on CDP's as more and more audiophiles are entering the discless realm.