Within the headlong rush in direction of streaming it is easy to underestimate the enduring significance of the CD.
In 2012, album gross sales on the aged format had been nonetheless greater than double that of the downloaded various. With that in thoughts we have three class-leading CD gamers to spotlight in our 2013 Awards. There’s one thing for all budgets right here.
MORE: Finest CD gamers: Awards 2013
We begin off with what we expect is the best participant underneath £500. The Marantz CD6005 (£350) is simply the most recent in a protracted line of prime class finances CD gamers from this model.
The CD6005 is wise and well-built however most of all has a remarkably well-judged sonic steadiness. It is the sort of presentation that flatters low-priced package – often missing refinement and authority – however has sufficient stretch to shine when utilized in extra succesful techniques.
Rivals such because the Cambridge Azur 351C (now all the way down to £250) are actually price contemplating, however for us the Marantz is king.
MORE: Finest stereo amplifiers: Awards 2013
We’ve an enormous hole between the Marantz and our subsequent Award winner, the Naim CD5si at £995. That is to not say there are not any stand out machines between the 2.
We would definitely encourage anybody to take a take heed to the terrific Audiolab 8200CD (£800) and doubtless the Cyrus CD6 SE2 (£750) too. The Audiolab specifically is a positive proposition which has the advantages of digital inputs, so you’ll be able to plug-in a laptop computer and feed the improved sign via your hi-fi.
Nevertheless, regardless of its increased worth, it is the Naim we stored coming again to. It has a splendidly energetic sound that positively brims with enthusiasm. There’s an enormous dollop of finesse too, which make the participant a terrific all-rounder. If there’s one machine that can have you ever trawling via your discs in any respect hours of the night time, that is it.
Roksan’s Caspian M2 CD participant has dominated our top-price class for the final 4 years, and rightly so.
It is a solidly-made, luxuriously-finished machine that mixes dynamics, subtlety and rhythmic drive brilliantly. Nothing we have heard previously 4 years, bar presumably the Naim CD5XShas come near unseating this participant from its throne.
MORE: See all our Awards 2013 winners
