Looking for best moderately priced CD player I can plug directly into the AV-8s. Thanks much.

Cambridge D300 SE or D500 SE (slightly better and more expensive by about $100).

www.audioshop.on.ca has good prices.

Hi
I tried the Cambridge Audio D500SE with my Antique Sound Labs MG S1 15 DT (5 watts per channel in triode) and M3s and did not like the sound at all. The Cambridge was an 'upgrade' from a 9 year old JVC carousel CD player. The JVC sounded much cleaner. The Cambridge had loose, blowsy bass, indistinct imaging, and rolled off highs.

I eventually went with an Ah! Njoeb Tjoeb tube output CD Player and that was a real improvement. Liquid accuracy, tight bass, rich mids, tinkling highs. The Ah! set me back a lot of money. On a dollar/value basis, I'd look around garage sales for another 9 year old JVC. Pay the $10.

Give the NAD C521i or C541i a listen. I've heard the previous model of the C541i (the C540) and it sounded quite good. I've also read good things about the Sony DVP-NS500V... SACD/CD/DVD playback all-in-one and *very* affordable so you can spend more money on music.

Since you'll be plugging it directly into the AV-8s without a pre-amp you should get a player with a remote that has a variable level control. Consider the Sony CDP-CE375(about $130). Also, don't overlook the convenience of a multi-disc player(the sound is the same), especially if you have, or will have, a large CD collection. The 375 is a 5 disc changer, while the 575 adds the ability to daisy-chain to their 400 CD changers.