I am sending my denon cd player back thats severely messed up. I was just wondering if anyone could help me. I am looking for a quality cd player for my system for around $400.
My sysem right now with Denon DCM 280 gone.
Denon DCD 910
Pioneer Integrated amp 100W a channel
Axiom M80s

Thanks

Oldschool,
I use the 300SE made by Cambridge Audio. This unit is "audiophile" quality at a reasonable price. Check it out at Audioadvisor.com

he's too cool, i'm just "old"

Sorry, my mistake.

The AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 has always gotten rave reviews. It's a bit over your $400 mark, but they pop up on audiogon quite often. Perhaps you could find one there closer to your budget.

how do you pronounce that??

I believe it's pronounced "Aha New Tube"

I tracked down a source here:

Google link

The D300 and 500 series cd players arent sold anymore. They have been replaced by the "azur" series. If you can find a D300 or D500 they are nice players, but dont have the widest soundstage, like some other players do. If you shop around you can get a NAD C541i for 400

The new Cambridge Audio Azur line is excellent. It carries the same new Wolfson DACs that Arcam carries(bout time). Dynamics is excellent and have a wide soundstage. They definitely are in the $420-$450 USD range.

I currently have the Cambridge Audio Azur 640c.
http://www.spacelofts.com/x1/mini-IMG_1317.htm
They sound way better than the 500...more detail and don't sound harsh right out of the box like the 500. I played it side by side with a Rega Planet 2000 and could not tell a difference.

Saturn

Hey Saturn,
Didn't you nave the Marantz CD-63SE? How would you say the Azur compares to it?

This is personal opinion and can be taken with a grain of salt. (Am I using that properly?..hmmmm)

Well both definitely sound different. I just sold the Cd-63 se couple of days ago and did a comparison for the guy before I sold it. There Marantz had a more tubelike sound. The was detail but the Azur had just a little more...but not much more info and the sound was how can say "more bassy". The character was kinda warm-like. The soundstage center sounded a little lower than sitting position.
The Azur I can be say seems to be more digital-like....but that also can be said to have more detail. None of the frequencies are rolled off. Soundstage comes dead center sitting position.
Both are great players and have different characters. Not one is better than the other. The 63Se is still an amazing player with used prices. It would be great for mini monitor speakers that lacked the lower frequencies.
I like lots of detail so I went with the Azur and it pairs well with the planer speakers (Maggies) I have. Lots of CD I do own sound horrible now. Gives me an excuse to find some really good mastered CDs.

One caveat on the Cambridge ... the transports kinda noisy. It wasn't dead silent like the Marantz.