I thought the new CD player from Bryston was pricey but the new 061 Classic Line CD Player from Burmester which is being unveiled at the CEDIA expo blows it away. The top-of-the-line model has a dedicated top-loading CD Playback system, a Phillips CD 2 Pro direct drive with a modified servo board and advanced converter technology with switchable upsampling rates of 96 and 192 kHz, and top-of-the-line analog output stages. The top loader is made of milled aluminum with a 10-millimeter thick tray that softly moves on Teflon rails. The 061 CD Player's connection panel includes two digital RCA inputs and outputs, one Toslink optical digital input and output, a balanced XLR stereo output, and two unbalanced stereo RCA stereo outputs. The 061 Classic Line CD Player in silver housing with a chrome front panel has a suggested price of $11,995. Burmester has a variety of high-end uadio products and has also created the sound system for the Bugatti Veyron.

These days many people are giving up their CDs in favor of iPods but for audio purists Canadian company Bryston has created the audiophile Redbook CD player called the BCD-1. The CD player uses fully discrete Class-A analog circuitry and a 192K/24Bit Crystal DAC. The machine prevents jitter by synchronizing the player's master clock and drive. The BCD-1 is all hand assembled and each one is individually tested before leaving the factory. It also has a three year parts and labor warranty. The player sells fo $2395.

With electronics usually sporting black or silver color schemes, this gold SA-&S1 CD player from Marantz is setting itself apart with an appealing gold finish. It's not super shiny and it doesn't look like it's trying too hard, but is still gold, which is interesting. Put that with features like little to no sound-degrading vibrations, protection against electrical interference, and micro-precision metals making for an exceptionally clean data read-out, and it's a nice piece of electronics.

It's a good looking seemingly well-made CD player, but I don't know about paying $10,000 for it? Unless that's real gold used in the finish, then maybe...