okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 9, 2010 I'm looking for a cd player (budget below $1200). It's meant to output to my headphone amp (Meier Concerto), driving Beyer DT880 (600 ohm). And I do not wish to use external DAC. My choice of music is classical and jazz vocal music. Sad to say that I've been looking around in Harvey, Best Denki, but nowadays, CD player is limited. Would welcome anyone giving some suggestion. Tachi. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
odgcwrtw 0 Report post Posted December 10, 2010 Are you looking for PCDP? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 10, 2010 I'm looking for a desktop cd player with analog out to my headphone amp (Meier Stepdance). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dacboy 0 Report post Posted December 11, 2010 (edited) I'm looking for a cd player (budget below $1200). It's meant to output to my headphone amp (Meier Concerto), driving Beyer DT880 (600 ohm). And I do not wish to use external DAC. My choice of music is classical and jazz vocal music. Sad to say that I've been looking around in Harvey, Best Denki, but nowadays, CD player is limited. Would welcome anyone giving some suggestion. Tachi. Hi, You have a rather generous budget for a audio cd player and I'm surprised you went to the places quoted above. If I had your budget I'll head to Adelphi shopping center. You could peruse the common hifi mags or go online to find out. My recomendation is if you are not brand conscious then your budget could land yourself a MIC (made in China) player with a tube output buffer. Or to save money get a diy tube DAC. PS on second thought a vintage VCD play with analog power supply will also do. Good hunting. Edited December 11, 2010 by dacboy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 11, 2010 You will do that too, if you have about 400 CDs in your collection. Anyway, spotted Marantz K1 Pearl Lite, a very interesting cd player with an USB input. It is able to tap the digital output from iPod then uses the Marantz DAC to convert it to analog. So, this player serves me well, built-in digital dock for iPod, DAC conversion, very good CD transport (uses the same as the big brother K1 Pearl), then it also has a headphone output (although not the class as my Meier). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kchew 0 Report post Posted December 11, 2010 Wow, Marantz released a lite version of the SA-KI Pearl? If it's within your budget, go for it. Another option in your price range is the Cambridge Audio 740C at Alpha Audio. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 12, 2010 I got it yesterday, currently burning it. Sound is impressive upon 1st hearing. Really amazing for its price, especially the headphone output. The player is a 3 in 1 : a) It taps iPod loseless file and then convert using its DAC. You can even control the individual track on the remote control, however, album selection would have to be done on the iPod. SACD player by itself. c) It also has a USB input for digital, way to go! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alamakazam 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 I got it yesterday, currently burning it. Sound is impressive upon 1st hearing. Really amazing for its price, especially the headphone output. The player is a 3 in 1 : a) It taps iPod loseless file and then convert using its DAC. You can even control the individual track on the remote control, however, album selection would have to be done on the iPod. SACD player by itself. c) It also has a USB input for digital, way to go! what damage? should be more than your 1.2k budget Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 yes within $1.2K Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dacboy 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) Hi, Congratulations on picking a commonly viewed machine as well made japanese style.Marantz has capitalised on the Ken Isihwata name to mount a clever marketing campaign in 2009.This being the 30th year of the famed designer's career at marantz.It has also made a pitch for the younger generation for PC interface with USB and iPod compatibility.Which in past years of audio cd players were much lacking although demand was growing,I think it was that the older generation of engineers was not prepared to fool around noisy pc circuits when the audiophile segment shun such inclusion into their hallowed audio beliefs but as time went on I guess they have to accept the encroachment into hifi. Marantz limited 500 pcs of the big brother Pearl KI is mostly distributed to it's resellers to make consumers salivate over such a cd player when few could afford/ hard to obtain.What with it's solid copper chasis (did I get it right? or is it still copper plated like the old KI series).But the electronics are still rather similar.It even says that they put in a low noise power supply for the flouresant display,I wonder if it makes any difference when all along designers never considered it a problem,could it be they are running out of ideas to temp consumers? So with the lite version Marantz came a conquering,the dac is crytal semiconductors flagship chip CS4398 which have been around for some time.I think it being on the market has garnered a trust worthy reputation.It's all quite political when you think about it like the english supports the Wolfson dac and the Chinese put in any one that is the flavour of the month.Of course the US ones will back their own exports. I bet the tweakers will have a field day with the KI lite.PS there are some diy dac kits sporting this chip. edit: After reading Stereophile's review of the DCS' Scallati cd player combo at US $80K (Sing $104K) as the saying goes "Imitation is the best form of flattery", it is noteworthy that Marantz in the Pearl KI cd player also sports similar features like offering 2 types of digital filter instead of 4 by DCS and the low noise power supply for the display. Cheers. Edited December 14, 2010 by dacboy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leezhunjin 0 Report post Posted December 15, 2010 yes within $1.2K Could you kindly pm me the price and location where you got the player please? Would like to know the price of it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibo83 0 Report post Posted December 15, 2010 me too! i wanna noe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2010 I bought it from City Electronics, in Sim Lim Square. The price is in the range of $1100 to $1200. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zaek 0 Report post Posted December 17, 2010 I thought Sim Lim Square is chop carrot one? Can buy things from there meh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
okw3188 0 Report post Posted December 17, 2010 You have to do your homework prior to buying. City Electronics price is ok, looks like family business. By the way, ebay price is about US$1500, even from Hong Kong without shipment! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites