Price Paid:  $2500.00 from 1900

Summary:
C.E.C. CD Player TL51ZmkII Gold /Brand new in original box closed/ Summary: Well. What can i say, it weight 10 kg. surely the best cd I have ever heard. the sounds great (try Lustmord, Diana Krall, Brian Eno-Apollo, Mark Knopfler Dead Can Dance - Into the Labyrinth)and the disk-weight-prism is a nice option for solid stable for anti-resonance. Even old cd's sounds better. Just be sure you have good cables. Looks like a million dollar cd (with exaggeration :). If you can afford one-buy one, but on own risk. You must read it! I must write sad truth below in weaknesses label. MY EQUIPMENT NOW: rotel rcd-991; rotel amp.991; rotel preamp.995; Tube amplifier Amplifon Audio WT-40; DVD Sony 930; tuner Sony 211; CD Recorder Onkyo DR 700; Panasonic DVD Recorder 60; Speakers : Pilot "Concorde CD2000mkIII" /100kg per one speaker, 178 cm high/; Connects: VdH The First Ultimate, Monster M1000 and speakers cable AudioQuest "Midnight+", StrightWires "Chorus" and others from AudioQuest.

Strengths:
Heavy, very good build quality; space; very details; solid front panel like a tank; Rich midrange and highs; Bright sound presentation, sometimes some good records, CD`s plays exellent and magnificient; all the connections you'll need...

Weaknesses:
-Rear panel no info were made in?; Probably in China :(; -Very cheap remote controller in these price level is not acceptable!; -Bass is weak and not deep!; -Difficult read problems with some CD-R`s and original CD`s!/10 original CD`s from 100 CD`s completely no play or hiccup!!!/ My 600 CD`s collection are in perfect condition without scratches and fingers tips; -Display the same like in old models from 7 years ago /C.E.C. CD2100 from 1996/; -Very slow search function; -In program optiion"time"is no function!; -Inside some chassis screws was too loose and I must use screwdriver!; -Highs are too sharp sometimes; These weaknesses in these price level are shame,disgraceful and S C A N D A L! After few weeks I sold out these player without sorrow. Old C.E.C. model /CD2100/ was better than new TL51ZmkII. Old model was best because : MADE IN JAPAN!!! I have much more nostalgy for old C.E.C. compact disc players.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel RCD-991AE; C.E.C. CD-2100; Wadia 16;

Price Paid:  $795.00 from audio advisor

Summary:
For $800.00 it is a fairly good cd player. It is very warm sounding and maintains a very black bounground. On the other hand, it does not bring about the hyper detail that a good $2000.00 cd alone would. That is not to say the the detail is not very good, it is. It is just not in line with good cd players in that price catagory. As a transport, this player sounds much different. I pair mine with an MSB link. The two make an outstanding pair, making me believe that the weekness in detail is solely due to the outdated D to A converter contained in the unit. You get both the warmth and hyper detail of a good $2000-$3000 player without the cost. The only downside is that you loose a little of the black background (the silence of the background though is still within excellent parameters). I use a kimber KCAG silver coaxial digital cable between the two which seems to work very well. So, for the price as a stand alone CD player I give it a 4. For performance as a cd transport I give it a five.

Strengths:
Very good as a transport, both in warmth and detail. Very well built.

Weaknesses:
Lacks hyper detail as a stand alone player. Slow track to Track access.

Summary:
The popping SUCKS! I don't think the detail is as nice as some say and it's a bit piercing on teh high ends. i guess for $800 i could do worse but my hopes where built up with this thing and shattered by the popping and shrieking treble.

In case it helps evaluate my system is as follows:

audio research d-60 mono amps
audio research pre amp
acoustat electrostatic speakers
other stuff

I DO LOVE AUDIO ADVISOR HOWEVER. They were quick to take the first one back and all my other purchases from them have been beautiful and smooth.

Strengths:
Nice build, nice looks.

Weaknesses:
HELP! I sent my first CEC back because when i changed from one track to the next i could hear popping thru the speakers and it was HORRID! The second one came and i'm having the same problem. any ideas out there on why this is happening or how to fix it?

Similar Products Used:
Rotel cd player

Summary:
The player is warm and musical overall, but with a somewhat bloated and non detailed bass. The warmth comes at the expense of transparency. Sounds nice and rich at low to moderate volume levels, but gets congested and less detailed at higher volume levels. I would have kept it, but I believe my systemn (Plinius M16 pre, Plinius SA250MkIV power, Dunlavy SC-IV, and cables by Siltech and Ensemble)
would benefit from an even better player. Overall, I haven't heard better for $800.00. But, it is not as good as the DAC1/DVD combo (cost $1300-1500) or some better one box separates.

Strengths:
Beautiful player.Well built heavy chassis. Great feel to the
top-loading mechanism.

Weaknesses:
Puck clamp seemed to get stuck pulling on the transport spindle occasionally when lifted. Detail average. Somewhat congested at high volumes.

Similar Products Used:
BelCanto DAC1

Summary:
Sonically, this unit strikes the balance for me between the too-laid-back Planet and the hyper-detailed NAD. Both good players depending on system and taste no doubt, but not for me.
Bass is good; not world-class but approaching it. I agree with reviewer #11 in that it is probaly not a contender at $1,795 but certainly is at $800, particularly given the 30-day trial (I attach a value of at least 10% to this feature alone. Who anymore lets you audition for 30 days except low-end sellers like BB/CC/Sears?).
Detail is fine but not fatiguing. I don't feel like I'm missing info like I did with the Planet (what is the deal with the cult status of this thing, anyway?). The NAD left me exhausted in minutes.
Sound can be a bit (a BIT) forward, but I'm not done playing with cables yet. This player is equally balanced with classical, jazz or pop vocals.
Its looks clinch the deal for me. I got the gold with some trepidation, thinking it might be too gaudy, but I was ready to take a risk. It is not really gold but a very classy-looking champagne.
I don't have any gripes with the remote or the buttons. When I play a CD, I listen to the whole thing because I choose music I like. I had a programmable Sony and never once used any of the fancy features I paid $$ for. For me now, it's simplicity and function first.
This is a player that gets it right without yelling "Look at me!" I am sure there are better, but not for the money.

Strengths:
Balance, musicality, elegance

Weaknesses:
Slow cue time; one can get used to this and is a design feature resulting from the belt.

Similar Products Used:
Rega Planet, NAD 540