After I left it playing on repeat mode for three days the sound cleared up.īeyond that I don't have much to report, the C538 sound isn't significantly better than other budget priced CD players. I rarely mention electronics 'burn-in' or how their sound changes over the first few days of use, but the C538 sounded a little dull at first. Can't say the same for Blu-ray or DVD players! For that alone the C538 deserves some credit, but of course that simplicity is common to nearly all CD players.

Open the disc drawer, put in a CD, close the drawer, hit the 'Play' button on the remote control or on the C538 and the music starts to play! I promise you'll never have to consult the owner's manual or spend hours on the phone with tech support to use the C538. There's also a tidy little plastic remote control.Ĭompared with most of today's consumer electronics, CD players are dead simple to use. The C538 looks awfully similar to NAD players from 30 years ago, and that goes for the rear panel's connectivity offerings: just a set of stereo RCA analog output jacks, plus coaxial and optical digital audio outputs allowing connection to an external digital converter or AV receiver. Back then, NAD's sound was a cut above the other affordable players. I've always admired NAD's no frills budget players, starting when I was working as an audio salesman in the 1980s.

It sells for $299 in the US and £249 in the UK. This new NAD, the C538 would be the one I'd buy, and mainly for its simplicity and build quality. Maybe that's why audiophiles are still seeking recommendations for CD players, especially affordable ones. It's funny, everywhere I turn I hear vinyl is back, but the CD format is still around, and dare I say it, there's a lot more new music coming out on CD than LP.

Best sound cd player review