Onkyo C-30 CD Player vs Marantz CD 60

The Marantz CD 60 is the stronger disc player: its ES9016K2M DAC, 118 dB signal-to-noise ratio and USB input that decodes DSD and 24/192 FLAC, WAV and ALAC put it ahead of the Onkyo C-30 on measured performance and file support. The Onkyo is a pure CD machine with Onkyo's VLSC noise-shaping, a ±10PPM clock and a blast-finished aluminum front panel, and it weighs 11.7 lbs against the Marantz's heavier two-layer chassis. Buy the Marantz if you want one box that plays discs and hi-res files and has a headphone jack; buy the Onkyo if you only spin CDs and want a simple, solid transport with optical and coaxial outputs.

• Choose the Onkyo C-30 if you play CDs and CD-R/RWs only and want a straightforward aluminum-front transport with optical and coaxial digital outputs for an external DAC.
• Choose the Marantz CD 60 if you want disc playback plus USB decoding of DSD and 24/192 files, a built-in headphone amp and the lower distortion and noise figures.