CD Player under £100

WozzaB

I'm thinking of picking up a decent CD player as I still have a lot cd's knocking about!

They currently get played via a Sony UBP-X700 Bluray player, and I'm a little underwhelmed with the sound, it's running through a Denon AVR-X3500H with Q3010i fronts and BK XXLS400 subs.

So no dedicated amp, just the AVR running all sound duties.

I'm happy to look at used players, what would you guys recommend for around £100 or less?

Cheers!

Jamie

Have you tried the coax digital out to the amp? Or are you just using the HDMI for everything.

WozzaB

It's all connected via HDMI, didn't even think of looking for other options!
Everything was rca to rca last time I had any separates!

gibbsy

Coax may give a better sound but the real problem may lie with the Denon. Receivers are not very good at stereo music, even the higher tier Denons such as my X6200 are comparatively poor. Even though you would be able to connect a dedicated CD player by analogue as most have their own onboard DAC it's going to get nowhere near as good as a CDP and stereo amp can produce.

I even tried connecting my blu ray player by analogue (Pioneer LX58 at the time) and used the receiver in pure direct which did make a slight improvement.

I wouldn't bother with a standalone CDP as the Sony will do just as good a job in conjunction with the Denon.

WozzaB

That's the answer I was expecting, but was hoping wasn't true

So, do I know go down the amp route or just stick with what I have? I need to have a think!

Cheers!

Fred Smith

Why not try a phono / RCA cable between the two, coax digital to coax digital, and if you think is is better get a coax digital cable, like Amazon Basics.

gibbsy

No analogue out from the Sony. Coax or HDMI only.

Fred Smith

I know, I own one.

My Marantz CD6006 does not support FLAC so I use the Sony's USB socket for that purpose, and output via coax digital to my amps coax digital input with an Amazon Basics digital coax cable.

OP could try a standard phono / RCA cable to try it out.

gibbsy

@Fred Smith I will always recommend the Maratnz cd6006, it's an excellent player and probably the best in it's price range. I own one, although now confined to headphone duties, as well as the sa8005. Don't bother with FLAC files just CD and SACD. The sa8005 is directly linked to a Rega stereo amp and isn't linked at all to the Denon.

The Denon is always going to be the weak link, even with the 6006 and with it in place I doubt there would be any significant gain in audio quality over the Sony. A £100 player isn't going to cut it.

Fred Smith

Yes, why I suggested a try phono cable between the Sony and Denon and it's the OP thinks it is better, then a cheap coax digital cable could then possibly be substituted for it.