ReviewFinder Home Audio CD Players

Yamaha CD-S303

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2 Verified Hands-On Reviews

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Expert reviews [2]

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Total expert reviews: 2
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  • without a score: 2
ReviewFinder: authentic product reviews summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD player offers impressive audio performance, high-quality construction, and flexible connectivity options, making it a great choice for those seeking detailed and accurate sound reproduction.

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD player receives high praise from experts for its impressive audio performance and high-quality construction. It offers detailed and accurate sound reproduction, thanks to its DAC that supports 24-bit / 192kHz quality. The CD player has a balanced and high-quality sound, with a reported S/N ratio of 113 dB for clean and low-noise audio.

It is suitable for various audio setups, whether connecting to amplifiers or receivers or playing digital music files from USB devices.

In terms of design, the CD-S303 has a sleek and modern look with a compact and lightweight design. It blends well with any decor and has a simple and minimalistic front panel with a clear display. The navigation system is relatively intuitive, with convenient playback functions and a dimmable display.

However, the buttons on the face of the unit are not backlit, which can be a drawback in low-light rooms.

The CD-S303 is built with high-quality materials and construction, with an emphasis on short signal paths, straight conductors, and well-matched elements. It is designed to minimize interference and signal degradation, with damping material used to enhance performance. While there are no specific durability ratings, the reputation of the Yamaha brand and the CD-S303's design considerations suggest it should offer reliable performance.

It features a dedicated processor to compensate for issues caused by warped discs and dust, indicating its ability to handle less-than-ideal CD conditions.

Overall, the Yamaha CD-S303 CD player is a great choice for those looking for impressive audio quality and flexible connectivity options. It is suitable for various home audio setups and offers high-quality construction and reliable performance, even in less-than-ideal CD conditions.

Audio

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD player is highly praised for its high-quality audio performance, detailed reproduction, and flexible connectivity options, making it a great choice for audiophiles.

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD player is highly praised by experts for its high-quality audio performance. It inherits characteristics from high-end models, resulting in impressive sound quality. The CD player utilizes a DAC that supports 24-bit / 192kHz quality, allowing for detailed and accurate reproduction of audio.

Its short signal paths and well-designed circuits contribute to its overall clarity and sound performance.

While there isn't explicit information on the specific characteristics of its bass, the CD-S303 is known for its balanced and high-quality sound reproduction. It offers multiple connectivity options, including digital outputs and a front USB port for playing digital music files. The CD-S303 has a reported S/N ratio of 113 dB, indicating a clean and low-noise audio performance.

Overall, the Yamaha CD-S303 is a great choice for those looking for impressive audio quality and flexible connectivity options. It is suitable for various audio setups, whether connecting to amplifiers or receivers or playing digital music files from USB devices.

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Design

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD Player is a compact and lightweight device with a sleek design, intuitive navigation system, and convenient playback functions, making it a great addition to any home audio setup.

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD Player has a compact and lightweight design, making it easy to fit into most home audio setups. It has a sleek and modern look with a black finish, making it blend well with any decor. The front panel is simple and minimalistic, with a clear and easy-to-read display.

The layout of the turntable is well thought out, with separate isolation for different sections to prevent interference. The navigation system is relatively intuitive, with a 3-mode CD text display that provides information about the currently playing disc. It also has convenient playback functions and a dimmable display.

However, it is worth noting that the buttons on the face of the unit are not backlit, which can make them difficult to see in low-light rooms. Overall, the Yamaha CD-S303 is a well-designed CD player that is suitable for various home audio setups.

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Build quality

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD Player is praised for its high-quality build materials and construction, with design considerations to minimize interference and signal degradation, making it a durable choice for users seeking reliable performance.

The Yamaha CD-S303 CD Player is praised for its high-quality build materials and construction. While specific details about the materials used are not provided, the emphasis is placed on short signal paths, straight conductors, and well-matched elements. Damping material is also used to enhance performance.

The CD-S303 is designed to minimize interference and signal degradation.

In terms of durability, there are no explicit mentions in the expert reviews. However, Yamaha is a reputable brand known for producing reliable audio equipment. The CD-S303 features a dedicated processor to compensate for issues caused by warped discs and dust, indicating that it can handle less-than-ideal CD conditions.

The individually isolated power supplies for different sections also suggest a thoughtful design to minimize interference and potential damage.

Overall, while there are no specific durability ratings or long-term usage reports, the CD-S303's build quality, reputation of the brand, and design considerations should contribute to its overall durability. It is a suitable choice for users looking for a CD player that offers high-quality construction and reliable performance, even in less-than-ideal CD conditions.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all home audio CD players.

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1
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Onkyo DXC390
7
1
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2
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5
-
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2
- $599
Cambridge Audio CXC
The Cambridge Audio CXC CD Player is highly praised for its superior audio quality, sleek design, and durable build, making it a top choice for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.
6
4
-
-
-
-
3
-
6
5
3
- $340
Yamaha CD-S303
The Yamaha CD-S303 CD player offers impressive audio performance, high-quality construction, and flexible connectivity options, making it a great choice for those seeking detailed and accurate sound reproduction.
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
3
-
-
4
- $549
Denon DCD-900NE
-
-
-
-
-
1
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4
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-
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Highest recommended home audio cd players this month

ReviewFinder ranks based on a combination of customer reviews, expert reviews / mentions and popularity. Expert recommendations carry the highest weight in the ranking. We do not rank based on price, our commission or brand. home audio cd players below are at the top of our ranking this July.

Scroll to see all options. Click on the cd player for more details.
Onkyo DXC390 Cambridge Audio CXC Yamaha CD-S303 (this item) Denon DCD-900NE
Reviews
In comparison:
Onkyo DXC390 rank #1 out of 130.
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7.4
Good
Reviews
In comparison:
Cambridge Audio CXC rank #2 out of 130. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
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9.3
Amazing
Reviews
In comparison:
Yamaha CD-S303 rank #3 out of 130. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.3
Great
Reviews
We don't yet have enough review information for Denon DCD-900NE
Price
Price
Expert consensus not yet generated.
The Cambridge Audio CXC CD Player is highly praised for its superior audio quality, sleek design, and durable build, making it a top choice for audiophiles and music enthusiasts. The Yamaha CD-S303 CD player offers impressive audio performance, high-quality construction, and flexible connectivity options, making it a great choice for those seeking detailed and accurate sound reproduction.
Expert consensus not yet generated.
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