Top 5 budget CD players

Top 5... BUDGET CD PLAYERS - Up to £500

There's nothing technical about this top 5 listing and I fully realise that there are loads that could have been here that aren't... but these are CD players that I've bought, sometimes owned and sold over the years. They are all, in my humble opinion, great units within their price range. If the CD format lacks the drama of handling a vinyl LP and its large format sleeve, then these CD plays will add back in some of the excitement, both in style and sound!

1. Marantz CD6007

Marantz does some terrific affordable CD players. Almost anything from the CD6004 range upwards is worth a punt. We'll pick the newer CD6007, which is a bit of a bargain and in our experience is consistently reliable. Looks great too. Expect to pay... From £250

2. Naim CD5i

Naim makes some lovely CD players. The quirky front loading pull-out CD tray uses a plastic magnetic 'puck' to hold the CD in place. These players sound great and have a quality feel. The CD5i also has 'normal' RCA output plugs (in addition to DIN) so you can use it with conventional interconnects within a non-Naim system (rather than Naim's dogged persistence with DIN connections!). Expect to pay... From £350

3. Audiolab 6000CDT

Audiolab offers a number of CD players within our price bracket, the 6000CDT being a CD transport, rather than CD player... this means it does not have an internal DAC (digital to analogue converter) so you either need a stand alone DAC or a modern integrated amplifier which features a DAC (increasingly common these days). CD transports represent good value for money. Expect to pay... From £250

4. Meridian 596

We've had a soft spot for the 500 series of Meridian CD players (and transports) for a long time. We love the company's distinctive styling and the build quality of these units is always high. There are various models to choose from... 500, 506, 508 and 596, and it's the last of these we've gone for. Our only caveat is that these units are now getting quite old, and we are increasingly coming across units with failing lasers (particularly 506). Repairs are possible (but fiddly) but the result is a beautifully made unit that sounds very lovely indeed! Ideally, hear before you buy and collect in person to avoid any chances of damage in transit. Expect to pay around £250-350

5. Arcam CD73

We don't generally get that excited by Arcam gear, but if you are running to a budget, there is no denying that Arcam has produced some reliable CD spinners that work well and sound good. We could have picked from a variety of models, but have plumped for the CD73. Expect to pay... £125