Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.
Product Strengths
- Engaging sound that makes one want to keep listening
- Clearer and more precise than the Rega Apollo
- Very well-made and solid
- Easy to accommodate due to its conventional drawer mech, unlike top-loading players
- The buttons and everything feel nice, and has a heavy transport mechanic
Product Considerations
- Described as being a bit lightweight
- A bigger full-width CD player from the same brand has a bigger, solid sound to it
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- MD-100 is clearer and more precise than the Riga Apollo, but Apollo has a warmer sound and might be preferred for extended listening
- MD-100 is more engaging than Marantz and Roxanne
Takeaway: The Atoll MD-100 is a well-made CD player with an engaging sound that is both clear and precise. It is a great option for those who want a conventional drawer mech and still get that engagement.
How useful are hifi reviews? We consider them useful for three things: (1) Surfacing new products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've ever heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's unique attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on everything—rarely being negative for fear of souring relationships with manufacturers. Further, they seldom have more than a couple products on-hand at once, relying on their imperfect memories to compare to past products.
Video Review
Compared to their other products
We think it's helpful to understand how this product fits into the brand's full lineup (below). To learn more about these products, visit the brand's page.
See all the brand's products
Read the reviews
[{"title":"Rega Apollo V Atoll MD100 CD Player - Review and comparison","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQVvDdHzh4s","source":"YouTube","datePublished":"2023"}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
MD100 Evolution
images
No items found.
Manufacturer's notes
The latest addition to the Mini line, the MD100 Evolution player is the ideal complement to our "Mini-system" elements for playing your CDs. This player benefits from quality components, particularly a TEAC CD reading mechanism compatible with CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 files, and WMA-AAC.
Manufacturer Specs
Power supply: 10 VA
Total of capacitors: 11 094 µF
D/A converter: PCM5122
Dynamic: 112 dB
Signal/Noise ratio: 112 dB
Distortion at 1 kHz: 0,002%
Output level: 2,0 Vrms
Bandwidth: 5 Hz – 20 kHz
Rise time: 2,0 µs
Standby consumption: < 0.5 W
Operating consumption: 2 to 4 W
Dimensions: 320×210×83 mm
Weight: 2,4 Kg
Visit Manufacturer Site
Average Price
$501-$1,000
Used Products
60
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
136
of 600+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products
35
Founded
1997
Our take on the brand
Atoll Electronique is a French hifi brand that manufactures amplifiers with dual-mono design and discrete components, avoiding integrated circuits for better sound control, with 80% of components sourced locally in France.
Brand Page
Most data on ExtremeHiFi is proprietary—researched and reviewed after thousands of hours of loving labor. We archive our site's data and its pages on Archive.org and take legal action against those repurposing the data. We also fingerprint data to know when text and numbers came from us first.
Visit Full Brand Page
Used
Atoll
What if you spend a bit more?
CD100 Evolution
2200
2200
/
4
Reviews
Atoll
Atoll Electronique is a French hifi brand that manufactures amplifiers with dual-mono design and discrete components, avoiding integrated circuits for better sound control, with 80% of components sourced locally in France.
Expand Details
.svg)
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Balanced reproduction
- Great CD transport
- Sturdy build quality
- Dynamic sound with plenty of punch and detail
- Excels in the bass range, providing a powerful, extended, and dynamic low-end
Product Considerations
- The remote control is a 'button fest'
- The design is rather plain
- Harmonic richness of instruments like cymbals and horns can be somewhat lacking
- The soundstage isn't very large, and the contours aren't sharp
- The manufacturing, finish, and cabinet are of poor quality
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Atoll CD100 has nothing to share sonically with the Technics, because the French player's sound is better
- The CD100 makes things that the Rega Saturn does for the money
- The Naim CD 555 is better, but the Atoll CD100 provides a similar feel
Takeaway: The Atoll CD100 Evolution is a solid CD player that delivers a potent sound and offers a balanced audio experience. It's built to last and is a great way to enjoy a CD collection.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Atoll Electronique is a French hifi brand that manufactures amplifiers with dual-mono design and discrete components, avoiding integrated circuits for better sound control, with 80% of components sourced locally in France.
Visit our
CD100 Evolution
page
Product Page
DR200 Evolution
1587
1587
/
2
Reviews
Atoll
The Evolution series CD drives benefit from numerous innovations in terms of power supplies or digital output stages.The mechanics have received specific anti-vibration treatment.
Atoll Electronique is a French hifi brand that manufactures amplifiers with dual-mono design and discrete components, avoiding integrated circuits for better sound control, with 80% of components sourced locally in France.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Decent cabinet and a beautiful Teac drive
- Better-controlled low end that is more audible without becoming analytical
- Flows more than the Roksan
- Instruments get more texture, deepening the experience of music
- Offers calmness, authority, and flow
- Typical "Atoll signature," robust, with a touch of cream
- Offers practical outputs to connect to a DAC: coaxial, optical, and AES
Product Considerations
- At 1550 Euro, it is quite an investment for a player that only plays CDs
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The DR200 is a serious improvement over the Roksan Atessa CD Transport
Takeaway: The Atoll DR200 has a better-controlled low end and provides more texture, deepening the experience of music. It is a robust player with a distinctive sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Atoll Electronique is a French hifi brand that manufactures amplifiers with dual-mono design and discrete components, avoiding integrated circuits for better sound control, with 80% of components sourced locally in France.
Visit our
DR200 Evolution
page
Product Page
CD 50n
1800
1800
/
8
Reviews
Marantz
Marantz is a hifi brand known for its proprietary HDAM technology, which replaces traditional op-amps in their amplifiers for better sound quality. Their products include slim-design AVRs that fit better under TVs, and their flagship Model 10 Reference Integrated Amplifier delivers exceptional power with 250 watts into 8 ohms through its dual-mono symmetrical amplifier topology.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Acts as both a high-quality CD player and a high-resolution network audio playback source, offering flexibility for different digital music sources
- Offers a clear and detailed sound quality due to its ESS Sabre DAC and custom-designed Marantz Musical Digital Filters
- The design is sleek and classy, complementing the Marantz MODEL 50 amplifier
- Supports multiple streaming services via HEOS, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth, making it easy to access music from various platforms
- Features extensive connectivity options, including digital inputs (Toslink, Coaxial, USB A & B), network access (Ethernet, Wi-Fi), and HDMI ARC for TV audio
Product Considerations
- HEOS platform is functional, but can feel clunky compared to other streaming platforms, and lacks support for Chromecast
- Does not support SACD playback
- The BT connection only supports the SBC codec, even though not stated on the panel
- Is a little lighter than expected tonally, and has a fraction less bass response
- It is occasionally slow to respond to commands
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. Marantz SACD 30n: Lacks SACD playback and has simpler internal technology, but is more affordable and includes HDMI ARC, the sound quality between them is only slightly different
- Vs. Primare CD15 Prisma: Primare relies on Chromecast or AirPlay 2 for streaming, lacks USB-B
Takeaway: The Marantz CD 50n is a versatile and great-sounding player that offers a combination of CD playback and modern streaming features, fitting nicely into a modern hifi setup. It can be a great choice for those who still enjoy CDs, but also want the convenience of network streaming.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Marantz is a hifi brand known for its proprietary HDAM technology, which replaces traditional op-amps in their amplifiers for better sound quality. Their products include slim-design AVRs that fit better under TVs, and their flagship Model 10 Reference Integrated Amplifier delivers exceptional power with 250 watts into 8 ohms through its dual-mono symmetrical amplifier topology.
Visit our
CD 50n
page
Product Page
DT-6000
2299
2299
/
8
Reviews
Rotel
The Rotel DT-6000 DAC Transport celebrates 60-Years of performance synonymous with the brands Japanese heritage. PC-USB, Optical, Coaxial, and included tray loading CD Player provide the ultimate flexibility for your favorite sources rendering the audio with unprecedented detail and immersive sound stage.
Rotel is a family-owned hifi brand that maintains control over its entire manufacturing process, including producing their own custom toroidal transformers for superior audio performance. Through their Balanced Design Concept and Michi high-end line, Rotel focuses on long-term product development cycles rather than frequent launches, emphasizing genuine performance improvements through careful component selection and circuit design.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Direct, revealing sound signature
- Well-engineered, with a silent, spring-floating CD mechanism and quality parts
- Versatile, handling up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256 audio via USB-B and S/PDIF inputs
- Precisely constructed
- Premium ESS Sabre 8-Channel ES9028PRO DAC produces a high-quality sound, expansive soundstage with detail retrieval and noise reduction
Product Considerations
- No digital output
- A CD-only player, it does not play SACD discs
- Lacks network streaming capabilities
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The DAC section is preferred over the RA-6000's, offering more clarity, image depth, dynamics, and life to the music
- The sound reminds the reviewer of Michi X3 integrated
Takeaway: It's a great CD player and DAC transport, it can bring out the best in your CD collection or act as a high quality DAC for computer based audio. It's a great way to add high-fidelity digital playback to a hifi system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Rotel is a family-owned hifi brand that maintains control over its entire manufacturing process, including producing their own custom toroidal transformers for superior audio performance. Through their Balanced Design Concept and Michi high-end line, Rotel focuses on long-term product development cycles rather than frequent launches, emphasizing genuine performance improvements through careful component selection and circuit design.
Visit our
DT-6000
page
Product Page
What else competes at this price?
CD 60
999
/
Released
2022
Marantz
Extraordinary sound and peerless style—Marantz CD 60 celebrates your CD collection with a player engineered to sound better than any other in this class. Built with high quality materials and Sound Master tuned, CD 60 adds precision CD playback to MODEL 40n or any high-quality audio system.
Marantz is a hifi brand known for its proprietary HDAM technology, which replaces traditional op-amps in their amplifiers for better sound quality. Their products include slim-design AVRs that fit better under TVs, and their flagship Model 10 Reference Integrated Amplifier delivers exceptional power with 250 watts into 8 ohms through its dual-mono symmetrical amplifier topology.
Expand Details
Our Summary
No items found.
Product Strengths
- Impressive weight and solid feel as a full-sized CD player
- Sleek, modern design
- Disc tray opens and closes quietly, implying quality
- Sound is nice and well-rounded, with great detail and covering the whole frequency range nicely
- Excellent build quality and design
Product Considerations
- Track access speed is not quite as fast as older models
- May trick one into thinking it's a seriously premium product, and then, just perhaps, end up disappointed
- SACD playback capability is not included
- Does not have digital inputs to connect a digital source
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Outperformed the Rotel CD11 Tribute when it came to features and design, but the Rotel's output stage felt pretty comparable
Takeaway: The Marantz CD 60 is a well-engineered player designed to get the best from a CD collection, and it has a simple and luxurious sound. It is a great buy for someone who wants to keep enjoying their CDs.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Marantz is a hifi brand known for its proprietary HDAM technology, which replaces traditional op-amps in their amplifiers for better sound quality. Their products include slim-design AVRs that fit better under TVs, and their flagship Model 10 Reference Integrated Amplifier delivers exceptional power with 250 watts into 8 ohms through its dual-mono symmetrical amplifier topology.
Visit
CD 60
Page
Product Page
PL200
669
/
Released
2023
SMSL
PL200 Hi-Res CD player Hi-End CD solution, support MQA-CD
SMSL, a Shenzhen-based hifi brand, stands out for its use of advanced chipsets like Infineon's MERUS and ES9039Q2M, which have been objectively verified to deliver exceptionally low noise and distortion levels. The brand has earned acclaim from value-conscious audiophiles.
Expand Details
Our Summary
No items found.
Product Strengths
- Compact form factor with a solid aluminum chassis
- Fast CD reading due to the Precision Access Servo System (P.A.S.S.)
- Beefy headphone output, rated at up to 1W x 2 into 32Ω
- Top-loading design offers a unique and enjoyable user experience reminiscent of turntables
- Includes a wide range of features such as a USB-DAC interface, balanced outputs, and Bluetooth connectivity
Product Considerations
- May lean too bright in some systems, with a slight hint of harshness in the treble
- Headphone output is located on the rear, which may be inconvenient for some users
- The two-piece lid and magnetic puck system for top-loading can be clunky, and the puck is easy to lose
- Some reviewers experienced issues with the unit not playing less than perfect CDs
- Bluetooth receiver might be of little value to some, and a potential source of noise
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Rotel CD-11 MKII: PL200 is a little bit punchier and peppier
- Vs EverSolo DMP-A6: PL200 has better high frequency refinement and imaging within the soundstage, though the DMP-A6 has a wider soundstage
- Vs Arcam CD5: PL200 has better bass definition, transient snap and lockdown imaging
- Vs Cambridge Audio CXN-100: PL200 is similar in tonality to the Cambridge Audio streamer
- Vs Marantz CD-60: PL200 renders more information and offers more clarity
Takeaway: The SMSL PL200 is a versatile and well-built CD player with a range of modern features, making it a good option for audiophiles looking for a combination of retro design and modern functionality. It provides excellent sound quality and multiple connectivity options for various audio setups.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SMSL, a Shenzhen-based hifi brand, stands out for its use of advanced chipsets like Infineon's MERUS and ES9039Q2M, which have been objectively verified to deliver exceptionally low noise and distortion levels. The brand has earned acclaim from value-conscious audiophiles.
Visit
PL200
Page
Product Page
M2scd
999
/
Released
Musical Fidelity
Like the matching M2si integrated amplifier, the M2scd is designed as serious hi-fi available at a modest price. From the fine fit and finish of its metal casework to the unique technology sitting inside, the M2scd exceeds expectations.
Musical Fidelity is known for its unique amplifier designs, particularly the A1 integrated amplifier that uses its top plate as a heatsink and features a distinctive current-mode phono stage. The brand stands out for its innovative dual-monoblock approach in integrated amplifiers, where separate power transformers and dedicated power supplies are housed in a single chassis, as seen in their M8xi and M6i models that deliver exceptional power output.
Expand Details
Our Summary
No items found.
Product Strengths
- Clear and detailed sound with good separation and transparency
- Sleek, fuss-free design with robust construction
- Quality slot-loading CD mechanism that operates smoothly and reliably
- 24-bit Delta-Sigma dual differential DAC with 8x oversampling for excellent data recovery
- Coaxial and optical digital outputs, as well as analog RCA outputs
Product Considerations
- Bright blue display's viewing angles could be better
- Remote control has an odd layout for the transport controls
- In terms of its ability to portray harmonics, it loses out to better DACs
- Lacks digital inputs and streaming functions
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Marantz CD6006 UK, the M2sCD offers a leveled up performance
- Compared to the Cyrus CDi, the Cyrus CDi offers a harder edge and extra bite
- The M2sCD is on par with the Audiolab
Takeaway: The Musical Fidelity M2sCD is a well-built CD player that delivers a refined and enjoyable listening experience. Its clear and detailed sound, combined with its sleek design, makes it a good choice for CD listeners.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Musical Fidelity is known for its unique amplifier designs, particularly the A1 integrated amplifier that uses its top plate as a heatsink and features a distinctive current-mode phono stage. The brand stands out for its innovative dual-monoblock approach in integrated amplifiers, where separate power transformers and dedicated power supplies are housed in a single chassis, as seen in their M8xi and M6i models that deliver exceptional power output.
Visit
M2scd
Page
Product Page
CD5
699
/
Released
2023
Arcam
The ARCAM CD5 is for those intimate listening experiences with your favourite music on Compact Disc. ARCAM has been a pioneer of Compact Disc playback since the development and introduction of the Delta 70 CD player in 1986, our own ground up design. The experience of producing high quality digital audio products since then has been poured into the ARCAM CD5.
Arcam is a hifi brand known for its unique Class G amplifier technology, which uses multiple power supplies that switch based on demand to achieve both high efficiency and pure Class A sound at low volumes. Their AV receivers and processors stand out for their use of Dirac Live Bass Control technology, which precisely optimizes subwoofers to improve in-room performance and reduce room modes.
Expand Details
Our Summary
No items found.
Product Strengths
- Engaging, punchy, and muscular sound that is also detailed and dynamically expressive
- Excellent timing and pace in its music reproduction
- Very user-friendly
- Great build quality with a sleek, minimal design and modern aesthetic
- It can also play music files (in FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3 and AAC formats up to 24-bit/192kHz) if they're stored on a USB flash drive or hard disc storage thanks to the USB-A input on the back panel
Product Considerations
- The menu system and sub-menus could be more intuitive to access
- Some reviewers found the display, which always shows the total track time and counts down during playback, a minor annoyance
- The remote control is identical to other Radia devices, making it potentially confusing if owning multiple Radia products
- No support for SACD
- CD text is not available and numeric track input via remote is also unavailable
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Arcam CD5 does not quite have the scale or instrument separation compared to Bluesound Node-X, but it is comfortably the biggest sounding of all three CD players being tested here when it comes to soundstage
- The Arcam CD5 is not quite as rolled off in the top end compared to the Bluesound Node-X, and has a little bit more presence in the upper mid-range
- The Arcam CD5 has more resolution than Marantz CD60, but the Marantz has the most neutral presentation of all three of these CD players
Takeaway: The Arcam CD5 is a talented CD player that brings out the best in your CD collection with its engaging sound and user-friendly design. It is well-built and fun to listen to, making it a worthwhile addition for CD enthusiasts.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Arcam is a hifi brand known for its unique Class G amplifier technology, which uses multiple power supplies that switch based on demand to achieve both high efficiency and pure Class A sound at low volumes. Their AV receivers and processors stand out for their use of Dirac Live Bass Control technology, which precisely optimizes subwoofers to improve in-room performance and reduce room modes.
Visit
CD5
Page
Product Page
CD Box S3
549
/
Released
2022
Pro-Ject
The CD Box S3 is our first product of the new S3 line. In contrast to DVD or Blu-ray Disc players, a pure CD player is frequently better in playback of stereo CDs. The drive in the CD Box S3 enables 1:1 bit-accurate CD playback. The new DAC chip provides the best digital analog conversion with a bit depth & sampling rate up to 32bit/384kHz. The slot in mechanism smoothly draws in the CD and after a few seconds it is ready to play.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems, an Austrian brand founded in 1991, has been at the forefront of reestablishing analog music reproduction to the public. The company handcrafts 95% of all components in the European Union. The turntables focus on manual operation and minimalist design with a wide selection of colors that make their turntables both audio devices and stylish furniture pieces. The brand stands out for offering one of the broadest ranges of high-fidelity products in the world, including turntables, CD players, DACs, streamers, phono preamps, amplifiers, and speakers. Pro-Ject products are engineered with a focus on best audio reproduction for the money and omission of costly, unnecessary features.
Expand Details
Our Summary
No items found.
Product Strengths
- Full, detailed, and dynamic presentation with great spaciousness, definition, and imaging
- Nice internal DAC that can be used in analog, or as a digital transport
- Dedicated CD-only design for optimal performance
- Neat design that's very easy to use
- Compact form factor, being almost portable
- Affordable
Product Considerations
- Remote is small and plasticky
- Slot-load design might be a concern if a disc gets stuck
- Lacks bass impact and can sound a little muddled at times
- No optical digital output
- Stop button occasionally needs to be double-tapped to eject a disc
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Rotel CD11 Tribute: A relatively even competitor
- Vs Denon DCD-900NE: The Denon adds support for burned CDs containing MP3, WMA, and AAC files, and has a USB Type A port that supports playback of hi-rez files
- Vs Audiolab 6000CDT: Both rely on a slot-load drive that accepts store-bought CDs only, without SACD, DVD-A, burned CDs, or HDCD
- Vs Rotel CD ELF: The Rotel CD ELF has a better transient response and is a little bit more clean in voices and instruments reproductions
- Vs Older Denon CD player: The Pro-Ject added subtle details underscoring songs
Takeaway: The Pro-Ject CD Box S3 is a compact and affordable CD player that delivers detailed and dynamic sound. It's easy to use and provides a great way to rediscover a CD collection.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Pro-Ject Audio Systems, an Austrian brand founded in 1991, has been at the forefront of reestablishing analog music reproduction to the public. The company handcrafts 95% of all components in the European Union. The turntables focus on manual operation and minimalist design with a wide selection of colors that make their turntables both audio devices and stylish furniture pieces. The brand stands out for offering one of the broadest ranges of high-fidelity products in the world, including turntables, CD players, DACs, streamers, phono preamps, amplifiers, and speakers. Pro-Ject products are engineered with a focus on best audio reproduction for the money and omission of costly, unnecessary features.
Visit
CD Box S3
Page
Product Page
Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.
Product Strengths
- Engaging sound that makes one want to keep listening
- Clearer and more precise than the Rega Apollo
- Very well-made and solid
- Easy to accommodate due to its conventional drawer mech, unlike top-loading players
- The buttons and everything feel nice, and has a heavy transport mechanic
Product Considerations
- Described as being a bit lightweight
- A bigger full-width CD player from the same brand has a bigger, solid sound to it
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- MD-100 is clearer and more precise than the Riga Apollo, but Apollo has a warmer sound and might be preferred for extended listening
- MD-100 is more engaging than Marantz and Roxanne
Takeaway: The Atoll MD-100 is a well-made CD player with an engaging sound that is both clear and precise. It is a great option for those who want a conventional drawer mech and still get that engagement.
How useful are hifi reviews? We consider them useful for three things: (1) Surfacing new products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've ever heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's unique attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on everything—rarely being negative for fear of souring relationships with manufacturers. Further, they seldom have more than a couple products on-hand at once, relying on their imperfect memories to compare to past products.
Video Review
Want to see more similar products?
Head on over to our Search page to browse our entire database. Find the perfect hifi gear for your system.
Visit Search Page
How to buy
CD Players
.svg){kind=icon}
