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For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Editors of What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision
Britain's What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision reviews lots of CD players, though the emphasis is on high-end options. Additionally, some of the CD players discussed are not available in the U.S. Among those that… are, the Marantz CD5003 seems to be a standout for its solid feel and "expressive" sound. The Cambridge Audio Azur 540C V2 is called a budget player that doesn't look or sound cheap. Some stumbles are identified with the NAD C515BEE and Cambridge Audio Azur 340C, but both are identified as good performers and solid values. Reviews here are competent and breezy, but could be more detailed.
by Editors of GoodSound!
CD players are extensively tested -- sometimes over a period of weeks or even months -- and the results are detailed. While top performers earn a Great Buy designation, too many products earn that award to… make it very useful in spotting the very best CD player, and no ratings are provided. Comparisons are occasionally made to a "reference" CD player or another player the reviewer has on hand, but that's not consistent. CD players are listed here alongside lots of other audio gear, and lots of older reviews (dating back to 2001) remain on the site. Still, the quality of the reviews makes GoodSound! a worthwhile destination.
by Editors of AVGuide.com
AVGuide.com is the online home of several magazines, including Playback and The Absolute Sound. Some content is available free, while other content requires purchasing a PDF download. Reviews are generally… well done and authoritative, but finding them can be a chore as the list of articles is organized by manufacturer, doesn't provide dates and includes tons of discontinued models. Because of that, this is a site best saved for when you've narrowed your choices down to a couple of CD player models.
by Editors of Stereophile
Stereophile magazine reviews lots of CD players in detailed articles that include the results of extensive bench and hands-on testing. We'd rate this source much higher except for the fact that coverage is… skewed heavily toward high-end products priced into the thousands of dollars. That said, a few less expensive CD players sneak by on occasion. One example is the Onkyo DX-7555, which is called an excellent value. The inclusion of an apparently serious review of the Sony PlayStation 1 (purchased used at an online auction) as a CD player seems strange in context with the rest of the coverage here, but offers some interesting insights.
by Editors of EnjoyTheMusic.com
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Consumer Guide offers brief reviews of CD players. Newer reviews, while still not long, are notably better than older ones as they offer a touch more detail and clear indications that someone is putting… these players through their paces. Seven players are reviewed here, and all but one is current. Consumer Guide also reviews three CD recorders, but the reports are older and based on manufacturer-supplied data rather than hands-on evaluations.
by Gary Altunian
About.com's guide to stereos, Gary Altunian, covers the Pioneer Elite PD-D6-J and Rotel RCD-1072 CD players in single-product reports. Bench testing isn't conducted, but hands-on tests and evaluations are,… and the results of those are described in good detail. A star rating is assigned, but since both CD players score identically, that's not much help in deciding which of these CD players is best. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Contributors to Crutchfield.com
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Amazon.com is among the better places to read user reviews of CD players. Lots of models are listed, and many get considerable feedback. Sorting tools let you see top-rated choices first, and each listing… includes a comparison box featuring the most helpful positive and critical reviews. The biggest negative is that lots of discontinued models are listed, and there's no convenient way to sort portable CD players, table radios with CD players and similar products out of the list, which significantly clutters things up. The 400-disc Sony CDP-X455 and 301-disc Pioneer PD-F1009 CD changers are notable for their good rating following lots of feedback.
by Contributors to AVSForum.com
AVSForum.com is home to lively discussions about all things audio and video. The CD player sub forum is among the quieter ones on the site, but you can still find some active threads about specific CD… players and CD players in general. Especially interesting -- and spirited (to say the least) -- is a thread on the topic "all CD players sound the same." Unfortunately, that thread became so heated that moderators were forced to block new contributions.
by Contributors to Epinions.com
by Editors of Audiophile Audition
by Robert Silva
While it does not appear that any hands-on testing has been done, Robert Silva, About.com's guide to home theater, does a decent job of pulling together a list of recommended CD recorders. The top pick is… discontinued, but several other models listed remain available. As Silva notes, the small list reflects the fact that standalone CD recorders are disappearing because of the greater ease and flexibility of burning CDs on a personal computer. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Editors of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity caters to the audiophile and videophile reader, so not surprisingly, its CD player coverage skews to the high end, though some lower-priced players get coverage on… occasion. Another shortcoming is that except for the most recent reviews, there's no way to see how old or new a report is without clicking through to it. Opinions are clearly expressed, but players are not rated or ranked. The OPPO DV-980H, a DVD player, gets excellent scores here as a CD player.
by Contributors to AudioReview.com
AudioReview.com is another independent website where users can post reviews of equipment they own, including CD players. Like Epinions.com, one downside is that while there are tons of players listed here,… most have been discontinued. Additionally, while some old CD players get lots of reviews, current CD players often get fewer reviews than at other sites, though a couple of stratospherically priced CD players do a little better in that regard. On the plus side, posters here can be very technically sophisticated, and the user-written reviews are well done on occasion, so a stop here could be worthwhile.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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Onkyo DX7555 Audiophile Single Disc CD Player
 from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
from Amazon.com
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