£150 CD player. What would you buy?

[Dowser]

Yes it’s the NSM4202 module and I hadn’t realised there were now new replacements on the bay for £32.

Check though - one of the replacements I got was about 3mm deeper front to back - not a problem when fitting into a Philips player, but means it was no good for a Cambridge Audio player I wanted to fit it to. i had to track down an original.

 

[david ellwood]

What do you reckon, would a replacement fit?

 

[Snufkin]

Something like this would work and its 'up north':
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338728743&icep_item=223701839497

or this:
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/...tm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=AffiliateWin

 

[Dowser]

What do you reckon, would a replacement fit?

Not sure - but if that’s the ad showing a new one being fitted to a meridian, I guess so Issue with one I had was the thicker chip they used on the back of the board, meant I could not mount new display as deep as original one.

 

[k90tour]

I found a guy in Germany on Ebay selling these old Philips displays and it works fine in my Meridian 207. Fiddly to do but I'm no expert so anyone could do it. Cost me £35.00.

 

[k90tour]

And a Meridian 207 for £150 sounds very good in my second system.

 

[Martyn Miles]

An original Arcam Alpha can be found for around your price.
Surprisingly good...

 

[Darren]

Collection only I’m afraid

there’s only a couple of segments out but

if interested I can take a photo of the display

I'll never make it over David - far too busy. But thank you for your kind offer.

 

[Darren]

I have an Arcam Alpha in very good shape.

No remote sadly, but I do have the transit bolts so it could be posted.

Looking for what I paid - £100 plus postage.

Am near Heathrow if that helps!

Cheers Fisbey. Not an Arcam fan but thanks for thinking of me.

 

[chartz]

What do you reckon, would a replacement fit?

VAL kits are absolutely superb. I know the engineer who makes them, and I reckon he is the best European specialist in vintage CD players.
A nice chap too.

You can buy with confidence.

The original Philips WILL fail again.

 

[hifinutt]

Just realised there isn't going to be any Internet for a while when I move to my new place. No great shakes - I'll spin some silver discs while I decorate. Don't want paint on my old Wadia 850 so I'm looking to buy a reliable old CD player.
I'm thinking Rotel 965bx, an 18 bit Sony or similar. What do you reckon? What would you buy?

Very happy with my rotel 965 , quiet and sounds pretty reasonable . no toslink output though

 

[Dark Lord]

Hi Darren, I have two CD players that I like. A Philips CD 104 and Marantz CD54 (based on the Philips). You can read up on Delatronics mods (basically NOS) but very well built and good sounding machines Ndncan be found for not much money.

regards

 

[chartz]

Hi Darren, I have two CD players that I like. A Philips CD 104 and Marantz CD54 (based on the Philips). You can read up on Delatronics mods (basically NOS) but very well built and good sounding machines Ndncan be found for not much money.

Beware, the NOS mod destroys the sound quality of those players. But hey the mod is reversible.

 

[Darren]

Hi Darren, I have two CD players that I like. A Philips CD 104 and Marantz CD54 (based on the Philips). You can read up on Delatronics mods (basically NOS) but very well built and good sounding machines Ndncan be found for not much money.

regards

Gosh.... Both of those players must knocking on. Are they still reliable?

 

[chartz]

Yes they are very reliable. You can add the Beogram CDX, the Philips CD100, 300...
They are amazingly durable, built to last because those first gen players just couldn’t be allowed to break down!
Remember the McIntosh MCD7000? A Philips in disguise, with nothing much to distinguish them sonically.
They were worth 5 times the price of the aforementioned CD104, but shared the same PCBs.
Curiously that Mc player is said to be one of the best players ever! But I digress...

 

[Rockmeister]

Id have something that was fun...in any sense...crazy looks, weird loading mech...anything that makes you smile and hoinestly, anything after the mid 90's is going to sound just fine for a while...what about hunting out a Micromega, or even something more useful...I own a denon mini system which, as a decoraters mate, would do 1st class service. Amazingly good noise out of it too, with radio to boot.

 

[david ellwood]

I'll never make it over David - far too busy. But thank you for your kind offer.

you are more than welcome , hope you find something nearer home. BTW I always fancied the original marantz CD73 as a bit of a looker.

 

[robs]

Just realised there isn't going to be any Internet for a while when I move to my new place.

Is there no mobile signal there?

 

[Dark Lord]

Beware, the NOS mod destroys the sound quality of those players. But hey the mod is reversible.

hi there the nos modification, a new clock and revised analogue output stage with high quality caps etc makes it sound very good in my opinion and the build is excellent.

 

[Darren]

How about a Marantz CD 6004 I have going spare?

Nice condition with remote and box. Reasonably local to West Lancs too. Would be under budget.

This is now sold to me. Thanks to all for offers suggestions and wisdom. It should be in my hands by Thursday Lunch time. Thanks Rob!