Hi, I'm looking to buy a new CD player soon, to replace my old (very cheap)
Sony one, which finally seems to have stopped being able to play most of my
CDs (yes I have tried cleaning the lens...). I have around £200-300 to
spend, my requirements are fairly straightforward: 1) It must sound good
(especially, but not soley with electronic dance music), and 2) it should
ideally have optical out, so that I can make digital copies on my portable
minidisc, which has no co-ax connector.

CD players I have shortlisted for audition (in order of increasing price)
a

* Marantz CD5400 OSE (cheap at around £150, has had good reviews)
* NAD C521 BEE (very tempting offering from a respected make, though it
doesn't have optical out...)
* Cambridge Audio Azur 640C (looks good value for what you get, and has had
fantastic reviews - looks v.tempting)
* Nad C542 (possibly my front-runner, though is at the upper end of my price
range)
* Arcam CD62 (No longer being made, but Richer sounds are doing this for
under £300 i.e. £100 off, and I've heard Arcam players can be very good...)
* Rotel RCD-02 (meant to be very good, but is a bit out of my price range
and has no optical out)
* Arcam CD73 T(out of my price range really, but would like to auditon for
comparison purposes)

Could anyone a) comment on these choices and b) maybe suggest some other
players I should consider in this price range

Thank you! :-)

Paul