top ten iconic CD players

[Muttley2]

Back in the 80s I alway coveted the Technics SLP 1200. No idea how it sounded but it looked the nuts back then

 

[Bas V]

Some come to mind
Sony ES (for the Germans among us: with Swoboda-mods); built like tanks
Naim CDS/CDI and the CD3; revolutionary transports
Micromega SOLO; when I saw this at the time...
Marantz CD80: never heard one, but seemed impressive at the time
NjoeTjoeb: VFM!

 

[Dave Cattlin]

dCS Verdi Elgar stack

end of

 

[Whaleblue]

The early Phillips and Marantz models (104, iirc?) and a mention for the Rotel 965 which was one of *the* players in the 90s at modest cost and that still bears comparison with the best of any era.

Yup, I’d suggest the Philips CD104. One of (the?) first front/tray loading players, and one of (the??) first mass market players, but still in a bullet proof metal casing.

 

[justshoemark]

What about the musical fidelity CDT fogeyed cd player. Or the nuvista

 

[Mike P]

Yup, I’d suggest the Philips CD104. One of (the?) first front/tray loading players, and one of (the??) first mass market players, but still in a bullet proof metal casing.

The Sony CDP-101 was tray loading too, so that was the first.

But yes, I agree that the 104 probably deserves a place in the top 10. It sold really well and sounds good.

 

[paulfromcamden]

In terms of iconic players I think Pioneer CDJ-1000 (in all it's iterations) maybe deserves a spot in the list. It's been an industry standard for 20 years pretty much becoming the CD equivalent of a 1210.

 

[Roog]

Not iconic, but I mention it on the basis that it still works, is my budget model Philips CD 150.

 

[beammeup]

What about the Philips CD960 ?

 

[mercalia]

what next in the "Iconic" series - cables?

 

[Peter McDermott]

what next in the "Iconic" series - cables?

Perhaps speakers? Or has that already been done?

 

[canonman]

Studer A730 and D730 wedge players
As used in broadcast studios all over the place until recently
Check out the going rate for one now!
https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/studer/d730.shtml

 

[RoA]

Is there such a thing as a memorable CD player?

I can't even remember CD's.

 

[Alex N]

what next in the "Iconic" series - cables?

Cassette decks.




(Then marine mammals... biscuits... )

 

[gavreid]

nah, 'audiophile' network switches...

 

[stevec67]

I love the look of all the 47 Labs gear. I'd have one of their CD players if I could afford one.

I had the Shigaraki, beautiful but rubbish.
You have to press a button for a few seconds to get the table of contents and in my copy it had to be a precise amount of time, otherwise it wouldn't work...
Built with cheap parts (mine used the laser assembly of a Sharp boombox) and no particular care.
Keep away if possible.

I want to like 47 Labs stuff too, but then I look at what's in the pretty cases and the price and think "No, sorry. This is a base model Ford Fiesta with a body kit, go faster stripes and a marketing department telling me it's worth a Porsche-sized price tag. It's not."

 

[lordmortlock]

55 posts and no mention of the Resolution Audio Opus 21?

 

[ciderglider]

dCS Verdi Elgar stack

end of

Allen Boothroyd's designs for Meridian are indeed iconic, but DCS should have asked for their money back.

 

[Sue Pertwee-Tyr]

I'm with Dave Cattlin on the dCS stack. Iconic as the first player using the Ring Dac. In a similar way, I'd perhaps add the Arcam FMJ player - the first 'affordable' one-box player to use the Ring Dac technology.

 

[lawrence001]

I want to like 47 Labs stuff too, but then I look at what's in the pretty cases and the price and think "No, sorry. This is a base model Ford Fiesta with a body kit, go faster stripes and a marketing department telling me it's worth a Porsche-sized price tag. It's not."

The 47 Labs stuff somehow makes me think of the KLF doing Doctorin' the Tardis, just a piss take to see how far they could go. It's the buyers that might as well burn all their cash though.