TimB
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budget cd player
Monty
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I don't know of any nice players in the sub $100 range. However, I have been reading some really good things about the Oppo line of players. They are very slightly above your target price, but there certainly seems to be a nice buzz floating around about them.

Here is a link and a little web surfing should scrounge up a review or two.

TimB
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was mainly looking for advice on older players, surely some of you guys had systems costing in the hundreds rather than thousands at some point??

Elk
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The Oppo is an excellent suggestion.

While used is often an excellent way to get a great buy, CD players have advanced tremedously - especially in the last five years. I beleive you are better off getting either new or "recently used". The Oppo lists for $149 and is an amazing buy with spectacular sound for the money. If I recall correctly The Absolute Sound just awarded it a budget component of the year award.

Elk
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I just checked: OPPO Digital's DV-970HD did win. It plays DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD), and Audio CD - including HDCD encoded CD's.

Now I want one.

jackfish
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I've been using the Oppo DV-970HD for about a month now and for an inexpensive universal player it does quite well. I'm listening to the Weather Report Heavy Weather SACD right now, WOW! $150 well spent.

MJS
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"it seems to me that very old cd players had a warm almost vinyl-like quality"

None that I ever heard! To me, the older, cheaper (around $300) CD players were PAINFULLY brittle. I wondered why I didn't listen to music as much in the 90's. I know now it was the fatigue factor from CDs. It's only in the last few years that I've heard $300 CD/DVD players sound close to vinyl. The Marantz DV-6400 ($250) is very good.
My buddy just bought the OPPO, and he agrees with all of the positive reviews. He also says the video output is terrific.

Elk
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Quote:
"it seems to me that very old cd players had a warm almost vinyl-like quality"

None that I ever heard! To me, the older, cheaper (around $300) CD players were PAINFULLY brittle.

Exactly!

I happened to keep an early Sharp CD player from the 80's. While bulletproof, the sound is pretty bad. It lives in my garage and is rarely used - for good reason. I can't imagine missing the sound of old CD players. (or 1970's vintage "spec wars" receivers for that matter.)

Go with the Oppo!

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