CD Players

The Technics SLPD8 (*est. $150) is another player that gets high marks in reviews, though it's not top-rated as often as the Technics SLMC7. The SLPD8 is Technics' mid-range, five-disc changer, and like its more expensive cousin, it's praised for its disc-to-disc speed and ease of use. It does not have the DCM370's HDCD processing, but it does have pitch control and fast track changes, and costs about half as much.

The Sony CDPCX350 (*est. $450), Sony's flagship jukebox, can hold around 300 CDs. This model costs more than the Technics SLMC7, but it shuffles more discs and has a second CD input, allowing you to hook up two CD units to single-input receiver. If you're especially ambitious, this Sony can be hooked up to one or even two more compatible changers, thereby putting over 500 discs at your fingertips. The CDPCX350 also keeps track of what songs you like and don't like; it stores tracks you skip in a "delete" file.

Experts say audiophiles whose ears pick up "slightly fat mid-bass" need a high-quality single-disc player that can play 16-bit CDs and 20-bit SACDs (Super Audio Compact Discs). With that in mind, we've included the Sony SCD-1 (*est. $4,500) in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. The SCD-1 is the lone player to receive Stereophile magazine's highest possible rating in that magazine's "Best of 2000" roundup; the editors say it "delivers the weight and solidarity of analog minus vinyl's deficiencies." The Linn Sondek, which costs a whopping $20,000, actually receives a lower rating in this Stereophile review.

Two five-disc changers, the Sony CDP CE525 (*est. $860) and Yamaha CDC675 (*est. $250), are highlighted in a few top-rated reviews, but are not included in Fast Answers because other reviewers say they can't compete with the top-rated Technics SLPD8, a model that delivers exceptional quality for a low price. Furthermore, the Sony CDP CE525 has been discontinued and costs about $50 more than the Technics, while the Yamaha CDC675 is not highly recommended by Etown (the most credible reviewer we found) and costs $100 more than the Technics.

Important Features

Home CD players come in five basic categories: Jukeboxes that hold 50 to 300 discs; mega-carousel changers that usually hold around 100 discs; five-disc carousel changers; single disc players; and magazine players that typically hold 10 discs in a removable cartridge. Competition in the market is driving prices down to the point that there's no reason to drop more than a few hundred dollars on a quality player. Experts say to look for the following features:

• Look for a jukebox or mega-carousel unit that can automatically catalog CDs. Newer CDs are encoded with text that allows their titles to pop up automatically on players with a cataloging feature. If programming must be done manually, you should be able to plug in a keyboard. Of the models in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, the Sony CX350 has both features, reading CD-text encoding and allowing for keyboard plug-in. The Technics SL-MC7 reads text encoding and comes with its own keypad.

• A five-disc player should allow you to change four discs while the fifth one is playing. Random play, shuffle play and programming options are all recommended. The Denon DCM-370 and Technics SLPD8 have these features.

• Look for a fast locate speed. Whether you have a 5-disc changer or a 300-disc mega-changer, the time it takes the player to switch from disc to disc is key. The best units do this in less than 12 seconds. The Technics SLMC7 is often singled out for its super-quick locate speed.

• Check to see if the CD player makes recordings. Many CD players can make high-quality CD-to-tape recordings. The Denon DCM370 and Sony CX350 have a built-in peak finder that lets you make the cleanest dubs.

• Look for a remote control (experts love the LCD remote on the Sony CX350), clear front-panel display and easy-to-use keypad.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

The top-rated models are all represented in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Although it's only picked twice, we included the Sony SCD-1 because of its glowing review in Stereophile magazine.

Building Blocks

DVD audio and 20-bit SACD formats have stolen the spotlight from plain old 16-bit CDs. Sites that give the skinny on consumer electronics are so flooded with new audio products that many have put CD players on the back burner. Among reviewers that keep up with standard CD players, we found Etown particularly credible. The Etown staff writes about consumer electronics with far more detail than publications like Consumer Reports, and they provide more balanced evaluations than sites like Productopia. Though Stereophile Magazine's reviews are short - the staff excerpted from past reviews to create the magazine's Recommended Components 2000 List - its methodology is clearly documented and convincing.