Which CD Player 2 (my year long journey)

Hi-Fi Corner
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With a nod to the topic on whether Naim will ever make another CD player, I just wanted to share some thoughts on my old thread and which has been closed but I couldn’t believe it has been a year since I started that thread asking for advice on my next CDP and the thread was very popular and I thank all who gave me advice.

First off, in my opinion the Atoll is a fair bit better than the listed players above. However, The Marantz was brilliant on SACD but somewhat disappointing on red book, and the Naim CDx2 was just superb as owners past and present will know. My only issue with the Naim was it wouldn’t play quite few of my cd’s. I was gutted to let to go but it did partially fund the Atoll.

I had a Rega Apollo a year ago, and since then I’ve had a Rotel CD-11 Tribute , Audiolab 6000 CDT, Teac PD-505 CDT, Marantz SA12se, Naim CDx2 and my latest player is an Atoll CD-200evo.

It’s been a very interesting (and sometimes frustrating) journey, but now I’m having a great time with the Atoll which, (for anyone interested) is Atoll’s latest version of the Teac transport based players which have had a bit of an upgrade.When I finally got my hands on the Atoll which wasn’t easy, it turned out to be faulty so it got sent back and another one sent out which had to be run in and even now while I listen to some Mark Knopfler, ‘Get Lucky’ CD, I feel the player is still improving and sounds superb much like the Naim but much more depth and super wide soundstage. It really is so relaxing to listen to, so engaging as well. I was listening to, Hooverphonic earlier today, not sure which genre they sit in, maybe ‘trip hop?’ but their music is so well recorded and I was amazed how I seemed to be wrapped in a sonic blanket even with my old Rega speakers.

This player is a keeper, and although there are a couple of super minor criticisms like no direct track access and the drawer is a bit slow, I’m happy to ignore this and enjoy the music. In fact I do tend to listen to the album all the way through these days. I had got used to not having CD player for a good few years and it was so easy to just go to the next track or do a playlist which can still do with my NAS, but I’m rediscovering my cd collection now and the extra information and super presentation this Atoll pulls from my cd’s.

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Did you try the Atoll as a transport into the digital inputs of the Nova?

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I did try the other transports into the coax input of the Nova but I thought the sound was a bit clinical and cold sounding to my lugs. I will try the Atoll through the digital input, but I’m minded to use the DAC in the CD player which brings into question of whether I keep the Nova or go to an analogue amp with a seperate streamer.

Thank You..

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I note you mention that “there is no direct track access”. I assume you mean that if you just wanted to listen to, say track 6 on a CD, the Atoll doesn’t allow you to do this - have I understood this correctly?

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@Mr.Paws Have you tried a Luxman?

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Yes you have..

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I assume you mean a Luxman cd player? I’m very happy with my cd player thanks..

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Thanks for confirming.

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The Atoll will allow you to do that, just push the forward button six times, that’s what I do on my Pro-Ject transport.

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Thanks for the clarification.

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Always good to see someone find a player they enjoy. I almost got an Atoll, but got a great deal on a Rega ISIS, so went in that direction.

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