Audio Specifications

2023 Editors’ Choice: Best Disc Players Under $10,000

Rotel CD14 CD MK II

$999

The CD14 CD player doesn’t try to be anything but a CD player. It uses a highly regarded Wolfson DAC chip, which is capable of sampling rates up to 192kHz; of course, as the sampling rate of CDs is 44.1kHz, the DAC’s capability is overkill. The CD14 will also play MP3 files, but you’d need to burn those onto CDs first (there’s no USB input that would allow you to play them off a USB flash drive). Analog output is on unbalanced RCA jacks—there’s no balanced XLR out. The CD14 sounds good, though the bass lacks a little impact.

Arcam CDS50

$1320

Unimposing in its size and bulk, the Arcam CDS50 employs a SABRE 9038 Reference chipset for D/A conversion—up to 32-bit/192kHz for PCM sources as well as (DoP) DSD. The disc drawer is a slow-loading plastic affair, but the player delivers gutsy electric bass/kick drum sound on well-engineered rock recordings. The soundstage presented is somewhat narrower than competing (and more expensive) products. Downloading the iOS/Android MusicLife app to a phone or tablet gets one connected to several streaming services and to internet radio. AQ, 300

Yamaha CD-S1000

$1799

Available for a decade and with its list price recently reduced by $500, the CD-S1000 is something of a “senior citizen” among digital source components. There are no streaming or networking capabilities, but if all you need is silver-disc playback, this 33-pound, built-like-a-tank machine does the job very well. The player uses a pair of Burr-Brown PCM 1796 DACs to handle sample rates up to 192kHz and plays SACDs in their “native” DSD format. The disc drawer has a gearless mechanism in a steel/wood chassis and offers exceptionally smooth, quiet operation. There are both coaxial and optical digital outputs, so the CD-S1000 is an excellent candidate to serve as a transport with a high-end DAC. AQ, 300

Quad Artera Play+

$1995

Past Quad preamplifiers have included phonostages, balance and tone controls, and high and low filters. The Play discards all these in favor of an orientation that is effectively all digital (despite two pairs of analog inputs for outboard analog sources, such as a phonostage or tuner), beginning with a CD player and a built-in DAC. Sonically, as a linestage, the Play is fractionally on the yang side of the yin/yang continuum, with a presentation detailed, transparent, dynamic—in other words, very much like the Quad Stereo amp and just as highly recommended.

Technics SL-G700M2-S

$3499

Meticulously constructed with four separate internal compartments to accommodate the power supply, digital and analog circuits, and the die-cast aluminum disc drive, the Technics SL-G700M2-S is designed with an eye towards minimizing both electronic interference and mechanical vibration. The D-to-A circuit features dual-mono ESS9026Pro chips capable of handling PCM up to 384kHz/32 bit and PCM up to 11.2 MHz. Ethernet, wireless, and Bluetooth connectivity are provided; the SL-G700M2-S is also equipped for full MQA decoding. The player excelled at revealing subtle dynamic gradations, correct scaling of instruments, and image specificity and spatiality on good recordings.

Marantz SA-K1 Ruby

$3999

The great audio designer Ken Ishiwata made his reputation with an exceptionally musical-sounding modification of an early Marantz CD player. The SA-KI represents his latest, possibly his last, digital component and is his finest work, offering the best SACD and CD playback from a single unit that TAS’s Paul Seydor has had in-house, and some of the best he’s heard anywhere. Its outstanding onboard DAC can be used with a music server to stream and play downloads in every resolution commonly available, including native DSD up to 11.2MHz. Those in search of the proverbial “last” disc-spinner need look no further.

Bryston BCD-3

$4495

Reviewer Alan Taffel began his review by wondering if a CD player like the BCD-3 was even relevant in today’s digital world. He discovered, to his surprise, that it was. His next discovery was just how good the BCD-3 sounds, and how much of an improvement it represented over even excellent last-generation CD players. Then, the Bryston went toe-to-toe with one of the best CD players available—without embarrassing itself in the least. Lastly, he discovered that the BCD-3’s upgrade path, which consists of turning itself into a transport to work with future or more expensive DACs, really works. Put this together and you really do have what could be your last CD player. “If I were choosing a CD player that wouldn’t break the bank but was unflinching in its musical and sonic generosity,” Alan concluded, “the BCD-3 would be at the top of my list.

McIntosh MCT500

$5500

The MCT500 SACD transport was introduced for audiophiles who already own a McIntosh preamp, integrated amp, or receiver equipped with one of the company’s proprietary DAC modules. It will handle virtually any 4.75″ disc on the planet and, of course, hybrid SACDs. With no built-in DAC, the MCT500 allows direct access to the DSD files on an SACD disc via a proprietary cable that can be connected only to other McIntosh products with the reciprocal MCT jack. It’s thus impossible to speak of its sound because its sound is that of the partnering McIntosh component. As auditioned by PS with the C52 and C53 preamps, its reproduction was as good as he has experienced with any other SACD/CD players or DACs, bettered by none and equaled only by a very few.

T+A MP 200

$5900

T+A’s MP 200 is best thought of as a CD transport plus a Roon-compatible streamer. There’s no DAC inside, but the MP 200 does everything to tee up multiple digital sources—including HDD, SDD, and thumb drives—for a downstream DAC. When combined with T+A’s DAC 200, the two act as a single unit. The MP 200 is a superb-sounding streamer, perhaps because it houses the same streaming module as T+A’s top separates. Further, the in-house-built CD transport rivals the best in the world. Add in a gorgeous, petite form factor plus great value, and you’ve got a home run.

Mark Levinson No5101

$6050

With a disc drive that will play CD and SACD, along with a fully equipped streaming DAC, the Mark Levinson No5101 will handle just about any digital source. The player is compatible with PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, as well as DSD up to 4x. On the technical side, the unit has a 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC with user-selectable digital filters and a proprietary jitter-reduction circuit. The output stage is fully discrete, direct-coupled, and dual monaural, with the signal output on RCA and XLR jacks. You can operate the unit via a traditional handheld remote control or via a custom app, called 5Kontrol. The player has excellent sound quality, particularly in the transition from the upper bass to the lower midrange, which preserves the natural warmth of music without softening it.

Aesthetix Romulus

$9000–$10,000

Another home run for Aesthetix, the tubed Romulus combines a disc player and DAC (USB, AES/EBU, SPDIF inputs) in a highly functional and great-sounding component. The additional $1000 from the base price buys you an innovative volume control that allows you to drive a power amplifier directly. The build- and parts-quality are first-rate. Sonically, the Romulus offers an exceptionally natural sound with a great sense of ease and an expansive soundstage.

MBL Cadenza C31

$9600

In today’s computer-driven marketplace the C31 CD player can just as reasonably be considered a “DAC with transport.” Either way, its performance is uncompromising. With Red Book discs the slot-drive transport gets a slight nod for its more intimate and lush perspective; however, with 24-bit/96kHz material the asynchronous USB wins hands down. A jewel of a player.

T+A MP 2000 R MKII

$9825

Not just a glorified music computer, T+A’s R-Series MP 2000 R MkII is more accurately a hybrid of CD transport and DAC with potent network/streaming-client capability. Thus, it accommodates most of today’s digital sources, from discs to smart devices, USB thumb drives, outboard storage like a NAS, plus Internet radio and music services such as Tidal. CD and network playback are unerringly superb, with naturalistic timbres and harmonics, midrange bloom, and ripe bass resonance and control.

source: theabsolutesound.com

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