Is it worth spending megabucks (>RM20K) on a CD player nowadays

As the subject implies. What are your thoughts?

I'd change to better loudspeakers, amplification or both. (or go vinyl, upgrade TT rig as alternate source)

I would agree with cmboy.... many so called "high end" CD players cannot hold a candle to a budget LP player like a Rega P3. I have 2 Lenco L75s paired with basic Rega and Linn arms and I think the sound just about takes every CD player I have heard to the cleaners....including one very high end player which I shall not name.

I rather buy 60" LCD/plasma with that amount of money

or maybe full HD PJ with 100" screen

jcwlow wrote:I would agree with cmboy.... many so called "high end" CD players cannot hold a candle to a budget LP player like a Rega P3. I have 2 Lenco L75s paired with basic Rega and Linn arms and I think the sound just about takes every CD player I have heard to the cleaners....including one very high end player which I shall not name.

But it also depends on the repertoire of music in your collection.

If u got alot of old Julie London, Skeeter Davies & Nat King Cole kind of music , of course its better to have a decent LP setup, as the CD versions of these artists would have been horribly mastered onto digital anyways. Not even a dCS Scarlatti can save them.

But if u happen to have alot of Marilyn Manson, Rammstein and the like ... CD's the only way to go, then what better way to enjoy them than to spin them on a dCS Scarlatti front end (+ u can afford it as well lah) ?


In a nutshell, "it all depends!!"

arremie wrote:I rather buy 60" LCD/plasma with that amount of money
or maybe full HD PJ with 100" screen

Sorry but you're out of the focus. Anyone can think of numerous other things to do with 20k.

If your system is over 100K & sounds it then by all means lah. However, not all expensive stuff sounds nice & not all cheap stuff sound horrible.

Specifically, which make & model are u looking at ?

What is your system configuration like ?

cmboy, It's ok. I know a lot of things can be done with that amount of money but as for me I wouldn't go crazy and spend that much on CDP alone. The other equipment in the link such as pre/pro, cable and of course speakers play important role as well. If I can afford to spend 20k on a CDP then I'll have to make sure I can afford to spend another obscene amount of money for the rest of the equipment in the link to match that 20k CDP. Just my 2c

mugenfoo wrote:

jcwlow wrote:I would agree with cmboy.... many so called "high end" CD players cannot hold a candle to a budget LP player like a Rega P3. I have 2 Lenco L75s paired with basic Rega and Linn arms and I think the sound just about takes every CD player I have heard to the cleaners....including one very high end player which I shall not name.

But it also depends on the repertoire of music in your collection.

If u got alot of old Julie London, Skeeter Davies & Nat King Cole kind of music , of course its better to have a decent LP setup, as the CD versions of these artists would have been horribly mastered onto digital anyways. Not even a dCS Scarlatti can save them.

But if u happen to have alot of Marilyn Manson, Rammstein and the like ... CD's the only way to go, then what better way to enjoy them than to spin them on a dCS Scarlatti front end (+ u can afford it as well lah) ?


In a nutshell, "it all depends!!"

Hey, I was asking the exact same question a couple-o months ago. So, i'm not alone here I guess. So, what are you targeting if I may ask? Burmester? Mark Levinson? Krell? Wadia? DCS?

A very balanced opinion from Mugenfoo in my humble opinion. If your choice of music exists mostly in the redbook format then you'll need a redbook spinner. Yup, RM20K should be able to get you a multi box DCS Scarlatti setup secondhand which would probably retail for RM60K or more brand new. Such a setup would more than plug the shortcomings of redbook and add a few sonic niceties in the mix methinks. I do agree that redbook is a flawed and inferior format and the ultimate goal with expensive CD players is to achieve sound that tansforms the redbook format into something better.

As for me, I was blissfully happy with a Cary CD300 dual 20bit valve CD player which strangely to my ears, did not carry any of the loathed redbook signatures mentioned in these forums. I can definately do more than hold a candle, it could toast a Rega P3 in toe tapping rhythymic ease, musicality and definately in absolute absence in surface noise.

Then one day I got curious and asked the RM20,000.00 question. And the question sounded like this: If the RM12,000.00 Cary CD300 sounds so good, what would a CD player double or triple that price sound like???

Like anyone can think like this, "Hey its my money, I can indulge and please myself anyhow". If one have the bucks, prepared to splash out, the heart rules the head, why not?.. Do what you think is right by you. NO crime commited here.

P.S. Kindly disregard wifey or WAF into the equation, it'll only complicate matters.
Not too long ago, a buddy brought wifey to Adelphi to shop for hifi... AND... he came with NOTHING. except for some replacement tubes in the pocket.

joeling wrote:If your system is over 100K & sounds it then by all means lah. However, not all expensive stuff sounds nice & not all cheap stuff sound horrible.

Specifically, which make & model are u looking at ?

What is your system configuration like ?

Its just a general question at this point. I have a Rega Saturn but then there's the nice Isis I've heard high end CD players from the likes of Mark Levinson, Oracle, Nagra, etc so the sound debate is not the issue here. Oviously if you're going to be spending more than twice what you currently own it better make better sound. and yes I have a fairly substantial CD collection (to me) but zero LPs at this point. Am really tempted by this nice Clearaudio Performance Magnum tt but am also thinking whether its worth upgrading my CD player.

arremie wrote:I rather buy 60" LCD/plasma with that amount of money

or maybe full HD PJ with 100" screen

Sorry am not an "AV Enthusiasts". Besides TVs arguably lose their value even faster than audiophile CD players at this point of time

llsaw wrote: Am really tempted by this nice Clearaudio Performance Magnum tt but am also thinking whether its worth upgrading my CD player.

Looks like TT and vinyl will be a new adventure for you and nobody can decide for you, but merely suggest.
It'll boil down to your own call depending on your own reasoning and justification.

cmboy wrote:

llsaw wrote: Am really tempted by this nice Clearaudio Performance Magnum tt but am also thinking whether its worth upgrading my CD player.

Looks like TT and vinyl will be a new adventure for you and nobody can decide for you, but merely suggest.
It'll boil down to your own call depending on your own reasoning and justification.

Would've been great to be able to afford both upgrades though but alas..

llsaw wrote:
Would've been great to be able to afford both upgrades though but alas..

Yes, everyone have dreams anytime. But then again, its entirely YOU yourself who may harbor all the answers and reasoning to make your dreams come true or not.

Guys, I don't think the question of $$$ arise at all. You should be asking "Can I afford the rm20k cdp?" instead of whether "Is it worth spending rm20k on a cdp?". If you have the excess $$$, go buy it if you like it but if you don't have the $$$, no need to fret about it lah! There is no such thing as worth it or not worth it but definitely a "yes, I like it and can afford it".

misterslumber wrote:Guys, I don't think the question of $$$ arise at all. You should be asking "Can I afford the rm20k cdp?" instead of whether "Is it worth spending rm20k on a cdp?". If you have the excess $$$, go buy it if you like it but if you don't have the $$$, no need to fret about it lah! There is no such thing as worth it or not worth it but definitely a "yes, I like it and can afford it".

Can I afford the $$$ = I should think so But is it worth paying so much money after all the latest announcements and furore over the CDRB format. I don't know..

OK, if you doubt it, then it answers your question. Maybe I should rephrase to "If you like it and can afford it". Music is very personal. You like it, you buy it. If there's any doubts, move on.

IIsaw, if you are perfectionist. This is worth it to get the highend CD player. Unless you want to start new journey for TT world. If you ask worth it get TT player which more than rm20K. The answer still same, if you are perfectionist you should get it.

id rather buy krell big bad ass power amp

haha 20k not enuf for big bad ass krell. 2nd hand maybe

azri wrote:id rather buy krell big bad ass power amp

"A fool and his money are soon parted" So goes the old adage. For a rich fool it don't matter much I suppose but for a poor fool, it could be dire!

Research before you buy anything involving hard earned money. Be warned!

imho,
if u wan to spend that kind of money on a cd player at this point in time, u shld future-proof it.

chk out the models from naim, bladelius and esoteric which offers ripping plus usb input for streaming from computer and internet.

Your justification is more than good enough. Having a good CD collection that u will get more enjoyment out of if u get a better CD player is a very valid reason. Go & listen & try to do some home audition before u spring for it.

Personally, I think CD technology is pretty mature already. So, no need to fear obsolesance by next month . I've had my DAC for the last 10 years already & only now feel the itch to upgrade .

Just do it already & tell us about it later.

llsaw wrote:

joeling wrote:If your system is over 100K & sounds it then by all means lah. However, not all expensive stuff sounds nice & not all cheap stuff sound horrible.

Specifically, which make & model are u looking at ?

What is your system configuration like ?

Its just a general question at this point. I have a Rega Saturn but then there's the nice Isis I've heard high end CD players from the likes of Mark Levinson, Oracle, Nagra, etc so the sound debate is not the issue here. Oviously if you're going to be spending more than twice what you currently own it better make better sound. and yes I have a fairly substantial CD collection (to me) but zero LPs at this point. Am really tempted by this nice Clearaudio Performance Magnum tt but am also thinking whether its worth upgrading my CD player.

Regards,
Joe Ling

as far as i can remember, my denon pm 260 is the one & only amp that i bought new at the RIP pennylane, subang jaya.. so with that rm20k, id buy a second hand big bad ass krell (perhaps monoblock), off course will have to spare some for the family to cover my up my ass.. you know the infamous lie "ah.. murah je ni, all together dlm dua,tiga ribu je" thingy that you would tell your wife instead of the truth

azri wrote:you know the infamous lie "ah.. murah je ni, all together dlm dua,tiga ribu je" thingy that you would tell your wife instead of the truth

hehehe.. do you mean to teach anyone to be a compulsive liar to the wifey?

Declare by reducing one zero from the actual price.

I have no need to lie to my wife coz one thing she never ask how much no matter what I buy. I think she's happy the fact that I'm staying home fiddling with my equipment.

joking lah bro.. lawak mlm jumaat hahaha

haha ok ok

Yes many people who are into hi-fi told me the same storey their wife are happy with the hobby becoz the husband spent lots of time alone infront of the hi-fi set tweeking the set up in the home..easily monitor by the spouse..one hobby that really up-sets the spouses is fishing..

Or Golf, or Genting or nightclubbing.....

Hey llsaw,
DId what were the cdps that you auditioned in the 20k range, and have you decided whether the upgrade was worthwhile?

Many people buy expensive CDP for many and different reasons. Its entirely YOUR call. There's just as many people who're happy with that supermarket sub RM200 tin can, play everything and anything DVD player.

Taking about tin cans, I once bought a DVD player sold in Tesco for 89.90 .
Can play everything you throw at it. The audio (from audio CD) was surprising good. Just after a year it won't read anything, before throwing it to the bin, I open the cover and then I saw, a WOLFSON DAC..
In many things, you DO get what you pay for.

cmboy wrote:Many people buy expensive CDP for many and different reasons. Its entirely YOUR call. There's just as many people who're happy with that supermarket sub RM200 tin can, play everything and anything DVD player.

CM, yes yes. I have read your previous posts. However, i am keen to hear what llsaw has to say...and what his ears told him to do

dheensay wrote:

cmboy wrote:Many people buy expensive CDP for many and different reasons. Its entirely YOUR call. There's just as many people who're happy with that supermarket sub RM200 tin can, play everything and anything DVD player.

CM, yes yes. I have read your previous posts. However, i am keen to hear what llsaw has to say...and what his ears told him to do

Hi Dheensay,

To answer your question the answer to me is no at this point. I find a ~10K CDP more than suffices and Bassraptor will have additional details

Already bought the Ayon or waiting for the new model?

car o scope wrote:Already bought the Ayon or waiting for the new model?

Still have the unit on home demo while awaiting shipment to arrive sometime this week. Unless I am able to part with my Saturn I'll probably stick with the CD1S. Too big a hit financially owning 2 cd players