CD Player recommendations for LESS than 400 dollars?

I own the Denon DCM 390. In my setup it sounds fantastic. Vocals are clean and soundstage is impressive. On some tracks the bass is lacking and on others it seems to be adequate. Not sure if that is the actual recording or 7" woofer in speaker. Bass is clean and tight, just not poundig if that is what you are into. I prefer sound quality over thump.

It does not have a volume control, but it does include a heaphone jack which I do use on occasion. IMO it is worth $350. Check Ebay and Audiogon, you may be able to find it for less. Good Lcuk with you search.

Actually I'm running Amp & Pre for strictly two channel setup, so the Denon is handling all decoding. I'm also considering adding a Benchmark DAC to the system to see if that improves the sound somewhat.

After playing with room treatment, CDP/DAC, the sub will be my last addition if needed.

My Onkyo DX-C390 sounds as good as any CD player out there, and was under $200.

I got a Marantz CD-6001 and am very satisfied with its performance. It replaced a more expensive Rotel RCD-1072 and I dont misss it.

Marantz, If you need a link to a specific model I'll be glad to post one.
Good Luck!

http://us.marantz.com/Products/1860.asp
5 disc changer

http://us.marantz.com/Products/1154.asp
single disc

or

http://nadelectronics.com/products/c...5BEE-CD-Player

these all keep you under $400.

I just went through this for one of my systems.

Wondering if anyone here has heard both the Oppo 980 and the Marantz 4001 or 5001 for 2-channel music on the ANALOG connection?

Am torn between the much greater versatility of the Oppo vs. the great SQ I remember from the Marantz 4300 I used to own. At that time I did do some direct comparison between the 4300 and a Panasonic DVD player I had for analog music playback and did find some striking differences especially at higher volume levels.

Have heard some claims that the Oppo equals or betters players costing up to $500. This sounds a bit too good to be true---but considering how cheap overseas mass-manufacturing costs are these days, I don't rule it out completely...

Problem is, all the professional reviews of the Oppo are 90% about its video performance and the few audio comments about it are based on a digital connection. Pretty darn useless for my situation.

So am looking for people with direct personal experience hearing these low-cost models, not just a bunch of scientific rationales for how all CDPs absolutely sound the same.

The Panasonic DVD's treble got very jagged and harsh at high volumes, and the bass was kind of dull and lifeless compared to the Marantz. Had the same experience comparing with a Pioneer 588 universal. At a shop, did listening comparisons to a NAD c542 which I found to have a smoother midrange and more delicate highs than the Marantz but otherwise didn't justify the extra $$$ in my opinion, and to a Sony ES player which was smooth but kind of recessed-sounding, with rolled-off highs. The 4300 had the liveliest, punchiest sound of all to my ears and the new 4001/5001 series is supposed to have a better DAC and beefier power transformer. I'd get another 4300 but for the fact that it doesn't do MP3s.

6SpeedTA95

The Denon DCM-390 does mp3's. It supports playback of CD/CD-R/CD-RW as well as MP3/WMA File Decoder when playing CDR and CDRW discs with MP3 and WMA audio files.

You must remember most hifi shops are set up properly for the systems to sound pretty good. Ask yoursef what is missing when you listen to your system. Then try to demo a few CDPs in home.

I had a Kenwood and then moved to an Adcom CDP when I purchased my Amp/Pre-Amp. Since I picked up some new speakers, I decided to change to the Denon. It sounds fantastic. I too was thinking about higher end CDP and decided to enjoy what I have. After posting/reading several fourms, most agreed I would benefit from speaker placement, room treatments and then possbily new CDP or even speakers.

One poster said it best when he stated that we should enjoy our systems and stay away from these forums. I know its easier said than done and the crazy hobby continues......

Good Luck

More eyes here so I'll ask here
I want to record the music channels from Dish Network on a cd or ? to play in my car. Do I use a CD recorder or DVD recorder, or somehow connect a computer? I don't have an ipod yet, but it seems cd's sound better through car stereos than ipods do. I'm looking at a Teac cdrw880 or a Marantz cdr632
Thanks

As I said, I just went thought this process and decided on the CC4001 5 Disc CD Carousel as it suited my need for this system best. I am continually researching new products for one system or another so I feel comfortable in this recommendation. I don't use MP3's but I just pulled out the owners manual and indeed it does play them.
Let us know what you decide.

would any know if the marantz cd/dvd changer sound good compared to just a cd changer from marantz also - i may want to upgrade since i just got a 7002 and using a Sony 300 changer now which is about 12 years old or more - works fine and holds all my cds - i want to up the SQ and was thinking of marantz but cant decide which model -
it would be nice to have a changer - but i heard that they are very noisy ?? i had a Sony ES changer before which died and worried about the changer trays now -

would a new marantz cd player make a big difference compared to the cd player i am using now ?

my goal is to have a better sounding cd player - when the cd plays a track and its over - i dont want to hear anything - just guiet till the next track starts - now i hear some noise in between - that could depend on the CD itself also right ?

i also have a oppo 981 for dvds but i did use it for CD and it does sound great and its hooked up to my Flat Screen - not the marantz 7002 -- i was thinking of hooking that up to the 7002 also along with another CD changer -

not sure what i would do with all my CDs if i get rid of the mega changer


i really want great SQ - from the cd player - also not sure if the CD / DVD player changer from marantz is worth it since i can use the oppo for video - but nice to have options or would just CD player changer give better sound quality than the combo unit from marantz --

very confused here - any ideas ??


thanks

yep. That's the main reason I'm resisting the temptation to get a refurbed 4300 from accessories4less dot com for just a C-note, because the 4300 does not.