Back to basics-ish

[jimbob]

My thoughts so far are that I'm leaning towards the Cambridge CXC and will just have to put up with the extra box should I decide I need a DAC upgrade. I do like some of the old CD players but would like to have something reliable and not obsolete should anything go wrong. I'm not in any rush to get something so I will have a good think... Perhaps I should just look at getting a turntable...

[jammy395]

You Could try this Jimbob........
http://www.brennan.co.uk/units

[jimbob]

Nice one jammy that looks really interesting.

[jammy395]

Well I have the older JB1 and its simple to use, I imagine the new JB2 will be even more user friendly.
Whilst the JB1's built in amp is Okay, I use the unit with a pair of NVA Mk1 A40's, a great improvement.

[jimbob]

Haha I can imagine a pair of A40's would liven things up a bit! I'm keeping my options open but I do like the loom of the JB2. I also really like the look of the Cambridge transport...

[_D_S_J_R_]

Technology is so damned cheap these days that I really would suggest a listen to the little Denon that Alfafan recommended. We've been so conditioned to high-profit stuff over the years making prices high (in my opinion).

I was given an ancient working 'Bitstream' Marantz CD583 since nobody on AOS wanted it and it was due for the tidy-tip. It's sat in our garage for a couple of years before our current clear-out brought it to light. Thick with dust inside, it's a cheap plastic chassis with the absolute minimum of parts and it's amazing it works at all in all honesty. The 'Marantz' bit over the Philips original chassis looks to be just two output caps changed for slightly posher ones. I powered it up and it's running just fine with a pleasant sound that won't move any mountains. How much did this thing cost to make? Peanuts is my estimation, even back in the 80's - I mean twenty quid absolute tops (I remember how Philips priced things up). I can't remember the rrp, but have a suspicion that it was the thick end of £200..

My plea to everyone - from my perspective obviously, is to largely ignore the cost of things unless the casework is flash and expensive, as the important (to us) bits inside are often very cheap to fabricate and assemble...

[jimbob]

I have cracked under the pressure of Dave and have just ordered the Denon suggested by Alfafan. I will update once I've had a listen to it! Thanks for the suggestions!

[alfafan123]

Hi Jimbob ,

Ooh that was a quick decision did you listen to it? ..anyway hope you like it!

[jimbob]

No I didn't listen to it as I doubt I'd have had a chance to demo one at home. As it stands I've ordered it online so I will return if I'm not happy with it!

[_D_S_J_R_]

It's cheap enough and I feel the lack of areas for bodgers to tweak it, other than power supply size, will definitely work in its favour - I think...

Hope it works for you..