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I am planning to get my Dad a used CD/SACD player for Christmas. He has new Marantz integrated with Kliphorns in 2 chanel setup. My dad is 100% jazz and Mom is 95% organ. I have bought them a number hybrids in past. His current source is a 20 year old sharp CD player and 4 year old lowest end pioneer CD/DVD/DVD-A player.I was thinking Marantz 8260, Sony SCD c555ES...
Anything else to consider ??
Thanks
Follow Ups:
For around $500 used, I'd go for the Sony SCD-C555ES. I tried the Sony SCD-C333ES, which was close but not as delicate or refined. I also tried the Denon DVD-2900, which was refined but too dry and somewhat artificial in the highs. On a whim, I tried the Philips SACD1000, which was nice but the disc made too much spinning noise for my taste. Never thought I'd like a carousel format of the Sony, but I find it comes in handy for longer listening sessions. Solid unit. No reliability problems yet. Good luck!
Pretty hard to beat that player's mix of audio/video quality and all-around reliability. For the money, it is probably the best Audio/Video player in the world.And, I have A-B'd my 2910 against a friend's 8260 and the results were unanimous - the 2910 matched or bested the 8260 in EVERY category. The 3910 is even better than the 2910 and 2910s are available for approx. $350 nowadays...
Buy your Dad a Denon, he'll be tickled pink on Christmas Day!
If you want to see if your Dad digs the SACD sound, why not just order the Oppo Digital universal player and let him see what he thinks? It's only $150. Sounds phenomenal. Don't worry about the naysayers who think a player that converts DSD to PCM sounds bad. It doesn't. For $150, it's worth a try.
If you can find a used Sony 9000ES or 999ES you would be doing very well. Both could be modded later to yield a true reference player. Even un-modded, they blow away most of the more expensive players. People don't realize how good the Sony SACD players actually are.
I highly recomend the sony 999es. In stock form it's a great player. The 9000es is a good player but won't play most cdr's. Most 999es owners don't have them set up right in the menu system for the audio playback.
Transam:
I have the video and digital circuits turned off, the fluorescent light off. Anything else in the setup for optimal audio playback?
I forget what it's called in the menu you have a choice of standard, wide range, and something else. It book says wide range is the natural setting not standard thanks sony.It Changes the imaging alot for the better. I'm selling my modwright sony 999es signature for 1600.00, it's pretty bad ass player.
I'm not commenting on this now, due to the process of repair. However, a cheap Sony universal player has been doing quite fine for a couple of years. While it may not have the sonic refinement of some, at least it has been reliable.I think my next player will be something like the universal Opto player reviewed in this months Absolute Sound.
I would not buy any used player without a warranty or return privileges. Period.
The 8260 is now under 500.00. I still have a modified Sony in the attic. A stock 8260 is a better sounding player to my ears.
Both my 8260 work fine, just read a little slow if powered on for a long time. I know others have had outright failures.
The new 8001 is almost down to the 500.00 range now used. It is supposed to sound better and have no transport probelems. That may be your best option. Seen them for 650.00 on A'gon. After Xmas, may be 500.00
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