CD player for Arcam A38 amp?

Okay... I'd be looking at one of the following: Rotel RCD 865BX, Arcam CD192, Exposure 2010S, Rega Apollo (original), Roksan Kandy MKIII... although, due to the fairly smooth nature of A38 I'd avoid other Arcam CDPs with similar traits. 

Arcam CD92 and CD192 or an Alpha 9 if you can find one in decent nick

Rega Saturn or Apollo would work very well as well

Try a DV78 or DV 88. I know they are DVD players, but they were £800-£1000 new and now go for around £100. Best second hand value in the World (slight exageration, but only slight). They don't do Blu-Ray, which is why they are so cheap, but you only need it for CD use, so that doesn't matter. Bargain.

I used to own a CD192 and its a fantastic player IMO.

Yip - great player. However, they do seem rather pricey.

My vote would be for a Rega Apollo.  Alternatively, see if you can find a Marantz SA7001 KI-Signature.  Great CD player and beautifully made.

Yes, that'd have been my pick.  Lovely player, nice build.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm drawn to the CD192. Unlike the others, I have listened to this before but with an Arcam AVP700 & P1000. Sounded great, however it was a few years ago now.

Sadly I have never auditioned any of the others. I have tried my A38 with a Musical Fidelity M1 DAC and used my Yamaha DVD S2700 as my disc spinner. Not a great combo, very detailed but lacks weight and gets very harsh at high volume. So I tried the DAC with it's matching M1 CDT. Again, not a great match, much better than before but still a bit lean. The CD37 was perfect and a great price at just £699.99 new! But still over budget for now. 

Fair play - the CD192 is a stonking machine. However, spending over £300 for a ten year old s/hand design sounds a little hefty IMO.

I think that's my biggest reservation. The age of the player for my money, though I didn't realise it was quite that old. But you right, I am looking at around £300. The last couple I saw sell on Ebay went for about £260 so I'm hoping the one I'm watching won't go for too much. I do work for an electrical retailer so things like to Roksan Kandy K2, Most mid priced Marantz, Quad Elite all come a lot cheaper for me, not much higher than the £300 mark in some cases. Do you think maybe a more modern player in a cheaper price band may be an improvement over a previously more expensive but older player?

I can only express my personal views, and I'm a huge Arcam fan. If you can grab a 192 for around £200-£250 then go for it.

If you want a newer design with similar traits to the 192, look at Rega Apollo (£250-£300), Exposure 2010 (£150 -£300)...

I love the Arcam CD73 and it works a treat with my current set-up, given the smooth presentation of the A38, you'd need a ballsier CDP to bring the A38 alive IMO.

Because the Leema and MAs are sparkly/bright the tame CD73 is like the hi-fi equivalent to Kofi Annan. ;)  

Thanks for that advice.

Is there that much difference between the sound charactoristics of an Arcam CD92 and a CD192. I have never listened to a CD92.

Yes - the 92 doesn't have punch or attack of the 192. Unlike any other Arcam CDP it has a real sense of openness, which IMO should balance out the A38s presentation better.

So the CD92 might be a good option then? Given that it appears to be a slightly better price on Ebay as well.

Sorry to go on about this one but what about the Rega Apollo? Several people have recommended it but I've had no experience of the brand at all. It was much cheaper in its day, can it really be compared to a much higher priced Arcam? I am on a budget but do want to make the best possible use of my A38.

Thanks