$1200 vs $200 cd players

[theaudiohobby]

hi, i am new to 2 ch audio.

i have borrowed a $1200 arcam cd82 and comparing it to a $200 sony dvd/cd player. switching between audioquest & highwire (brand) digital coax into my sony es2000 amp. speakers are proac tablettes. i cant hear a major difference playing cd's....is it the amp? music style? or is the difference not that big? i'm just trying to justify the purchase of the cd players....are the differences in equipment/sound mainly personal preference? what should i be looking for to jusitfy the cost?
i listen to jazz and electronic music.

thanks

Compare the arcam to the Sony through the RCA outputs and see which one you prefer, I cannot see the Sony sounding better than Arcam through the analog (RCA outputs) but stranger things have happened. However a good test is to see if the Sony sounds better through the digital outputs than the Arcam through the RCA outputs. You should only keep it if it is better than the Sony under both circumstances. Pay attention to the high frequencies and the instrument separation.

[jfish]

Compare the arcam to the Sony through the RCA outputs and see which one you prefer, I cannot see the Sony sounding better than Arcam through the analog (RCA outputs) but stranger things have happened. However a good test is to see if the Sony sounds better through the digital outputs than the Arcam through the RCA outputs. You should only keep it if it is better than the Sony under both circumstances. Pay attention to the high frequencies and the instrument separation.

only slightly differnet, i think my sony es digital amp is so "sterile" sounding, any change in imaging is lost....the amp makes everything really clear and sharp, nothing warm or tube-like about it....still sounds good w/ the small proacs & sub. i sent the cd player back.....i was expecting the sky to open up and golden notes for shoot frrom the speakers..

[theaudiohobby]

...i was expecting the sky to open up and golden notes to shoot from the speakers..