Best CD Player for Hi Fi under $500?

So what do you think? I am looking to spend no more than $500, new or used (less than $500 is also OK) on a 2 channel CD player to hook to my block amps and Axion M22 Ti speakers. Must have it's own volume/remote control since I am using block amps. I have no need for a DVD player. Tube or solid state.....no difference to me. I just want decent sound. Thanks...Gary

Well one thing is making this reccomendation hard is the fact you are not using a pre-amp. Which would make things easier and might help with sound quality. CD to amp connections need to be carefully looked at to make sure the units will work together.

In my opinion the three best player for the money under 500 are.

NAD C542 - 499.00 but you can usualyy get 10% off.

Cambridge Audio Azur 640C - 450 to 475 depending on who you goto.

The Azur is a more up front and detailed sound compared to the NAD's warmer more laid back presentation. Both are awesome it depnds on what you like.

NAD C521BEE - The budget king in my book. Only 299 and sometimes cheaper depending on the dealer. Very smooth balanced sound. However the C542 is worth the extra money if you can stretch it.

Yes I am a bit biased towards NAD CD players but at there price points they are stellar players compared to most of the competition.

Keep in mind these dont have the volume knobs your looking for but do have remotes. The only player I can think that might do what you want is the Marantz CD5400 at 299. Its a good player but nothing stellar.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I hope you reconsider a pre amp it makes things easier. You can get used ones from Audiogon for dirt cheap.

The above recommendations are spot on. However, as previously stated, good luck finding volume control in a new player for under $500. For a good player with volume control (also on the remote), you may be able to find a used Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD player for that price, otherwise they are $750 new.

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/view_category.asp?cat=37

I appreciate both of your suggestions and now that I've slept on it I either need to go with a preamp OR start from scratch with and integrated amp (and return the Wave AV 20's that I borrowed). I know I want a tube amp and after listening for a few days, I really must have a remote with volume control.

For a preamp - new or used - what do you recommend? It needs to have a remote, and I'd like to keep it under $500.

Adcom, Rotel, or NAD should work nicely and not cost a fortune. Check out http://www.audiogon.com/
for used deals.

For new you could look at the -

Rotel RC 1070 - 499 w/ remote
NAD C 163 - 599 w/ remote

Borrowed the NAD preamp today (will cost $540 if I purchase it). Sounds great based on the last 3 CD's. And the remote is pretty nice.

Its a great pre-amp and well worth the money. Has a pretty nice phono stage as well.

One other thing to mention is if you get an integrated amp you can use the pre outs to use the mono blocks you have. If you then need the solid state power you can only use the integrated. Sorta a win, win situation. The NAD C320BEE is only 400 and will do the job.

Hope things work out let us know.

As a suggestion Audio Advisor has the Antique Sound Lab tubed preamp for $345.00. I have not heard it but it might be worth checking out.

For CD Players:
Like previously stated, the NAD and the Rotel are definitly dominant in this price range. I personaly prefer NAD's warmer, more laid back sound to Rotels more detailed and often bright sound. However, that is purely my opinion. I also hear great things about the Cambridge Audio Azure, but I have never heard it so I can't comment. Another option previously mentioned was the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000, this player is absolutly superb and, in my opinion, sounds better than most players at double and tripple its price. If you want to stick with a solid state source, you may want to consider spending an extra $100.00 and getting yourself into the Arcam CD-73. This player takes the many of the good characteristics of both the NAD and the Rotel, and combines them to make an absolute stunning player.

For Integrated Amplifiers:
I highly recommend purchasing an integrated amplifier in this price range. Purchasing serperates will either cost way too much, or leave you with poor sound quality. Plus, integrated amplifiers are practical and space saving. Once again, NAD and Rotel are prominent names in this price range. If you want to spend $700.00 you can afford to buy the Arcam A65+. Once again, the extra cash gets you a nice little sound upgrade. To me this integrated amplifier cleared the floor with the NAD C352 and Rotel RA-1062 (Needless to say also the NAD C320BEE and the Rotel RA-01.) I would personaly stear you away from Adcom's more recent products and away from Cambridge Audio's Azure integrated amplifiers. Another thing to consider is buying a kit. You can build yourself a nice integrated tube amp for around $500.00 that will outperform most manufactured integrateds at about $1000.00.

Just a few things to consider. Goodluck.

In my opinion the NAD C542 can't be beat at $500.