Recommend a new cd-player!

[Sami M]

Hello folks!

I'm about to upgrade my home hi-fi set (=cd & amp) and all recommendations are wellcome. I thought I ask you too, becouse of the similiar music taste. I want other opinions besides those most usual ones from classic or jazz enthusiasts.

So can you name a few players in the 1000 - 1500 $/€ price range? Or can you warn about some models/manufacturers?

[Bernie]

Perhaps it is time for me to upgrade my aging Teac VRDS-10 CD player so I am in the same boat as you. While my unit is solidly built and has a wonderful soundstage along with being able to play CD-Rs, it doesn't play any of the newer fangled discs like DVD-Audio, SACD, HDCD or the compressed formats such as MP3 / AAC.

Are you looking for a dedicated audio CD player or combo unit? It seems with so many formats it would be wise to get a CD player that can play as many of them as possible without compromising sound or build quality. I have never been a fan of combo units, but I am flirting with the Phillips DVD-963SA, which is a CD audio and DVD video player as well as the Pioneer DV-563A that can play DVD-Audio and SACD. My main gripes are the build quality compared to my Teac is pathetic. This could be key as it really bothers me hence my overall desire to stay with an audio only unit.

If it's an audio only machine you seek the Adcom, Linn Genki or perhaps the Rega Planet 2000 (cool looking top loader) look very appealing in their price range. Then again I am also entertaining the idea of extracting all the music I have and using my Mac as a digital front end and controlling it all through there and keeping what I have.

Still vacillating on this one so we'll see where it goes.

[Forrrce]

I hear you on the multi-format argument, Bernie. I have several CD players and a Cambridge DAC-to-MF X10-D valve unit, which I've settled on longest so far.

I'd thought about SACD and HDCD, but since I got a DVD writer drive for £99 and buy blanks on the 'net for as little as 79p each, I've decided to hold out for DVD-Audio. The titles cost around the same as a their CD equivalents and hopefully someday, an affordable DVD-Audio authoring package will be available. I think DVD is the future, as far as audio is concerned.

I had a second-hand TEAC transport for a short while - it was gold, weighed a ton and was packed with more machinery than the average factory. I thought it was going to be missing link in the chain - but despite its formidable build, my 'problem' discs still jumped and sonically, it was a bit on the thin side. Until that point, I didn't believe that a transport unit could have its own sound.

If our prospective buyer here is not too concerned about SACD/HDCD compatibility, I would suggest getting one of the Pioneer 'stable platter mechanism' drives as a transport - and using it with a DAC of choice. The stable platter is a mini-turntable on bearings, with a 3-beam pick-up...and if a CD is even vaguley playable, this sytem will track it, no trouble. HHB and another company or two have utilised this technology on some of their CD writers and players. Like so many of Pioneer's little innovations, I don't think the SPM took off - so any remaining stock is probably pretty cheap now.

[Bernie]

I think DVD is the future, as far as audio is concerned.

Same here which is why I think I should consider this format strongly.

I had a second-hand TEAC transport for a short while

Which Teac did you have? I've had my VRDS-10 since 1996 when I bought it new from my former employer at cost. A $1200. machine for a little over $600. so I couldn't pass it up. The thing is I can probably get $300.-400. on eBay for it despite its age as I have all boxes, manual and remote and it is the same transport as the Wadia.

It seems to me that getting what I can now before it goes any lower in value would be wiser and putting that towards a newer and better unit with DVD-Audio. I thought about using the Teac just as a transport, but go back to my wish to be able to play the newer formats.

I would suggest getting one of the Pioneer 'stable platter mechanism' drives as a transport - and using it with a DAC of choice

These were the ones that played the CD label side down and had some pretty good feedback. Interesting point you make. Are they making that mechanism with DVD-Audio playback?

Despite whatever unit I get, it seems like I will at some point be using my Mac as a digital front end to manage everything. Storage space is getting much cheaper to make it feasable. I started experimenting a while back extracting some tracks and really like the ability to neatly catalogue, search & locate and making playlists of music. We'll see.

[Forrrce]

Annoyingly, Bernie, I don't remember the product number of the Teac drive - only that it was a V - something-or-other and looked a bit like this:


I think it only had transport buttons and nothing else (no remote either) - and it was deeper than it was wide. I had it about 5 years ago and I reckon it was at least 5 years old at the time. I can't even remember the price - I bought it with exchange - but I think it was around £700 though I could be way off. Maybe the picture and description ring bells for you?

As for Pioneer, I think they've abandoned the SPM system. Some of their earlier DVD players may have used it, but I haven't noticed it on any recent machines.

Incidentally, the two SPM CDs I have are the Pioneer PDS-06 and the HHB CDR-800 recorder.

Again, if a CD-separates set-up is your thing, one could do worse.

[K-Bee]

Sami,
No matter what you do, be sure to stay away from anything named DENON. I know a few people who bought players by that brand only to find out that break easier than a crystal champagne glass. As a Denon owner - be prepared to take it back to the shop for adjustment / repair within 6 months time.

I actually always been a NAD owner myself. my first NAD player lasted for almost 12 years without any repairs needed...and believe me, I used it a lot. Therefore the choice was easy for me when buying a new CD player a week ago. Obviously I went for the NAD stuff again. They do offer a wide range of models within a wide price range.

BTW do you guys remember the Phillips CD-100?? that was the first cd player commercially available as far as remember and came complete with top loading and space-ship like design. I'd wish they'd bring it back :lol:

[Sami M]

Yes, I'm thinking about the combo players too. I don't believe that SACD will be the format of tomorrow, maybe it's the dvd along with mps. Recently found out that new mp4 is coming, whatever that means.

But I'm mainly looking for a player with good sound quality. I had the Sony XA555ES (1300 $/€), which I wasn't quite happy with, and got rid of it few months ago. Since then I've had only the Pioneer dj cd-players, and am really getting tired to use them on normal play.

There appears to be new combo players from hi-fi labels such as Musical Fidelity, Primare, Lexicon etc., that play all silver discs, but they cost many times more than the usual Sony/Pioneer/HK stuff (2500 € and up). Besides I'm not very willing to pay for dvd player, since I allready have one bugdet sony dvd, which playes the mps aswell. I need no better dvd-player.

The problem with the combo players is usually, that the cd sound is not the best of the price range. Many times there are delays on cd-playing, so they are not so user friendly. These are the things to check out when buying.

I've been thinking about the music storage thing aswell. Yamaha has new audio only cd-recorder (999 €)which has 60GB hard-drive and can bee hooked up to computer for labelling etc.. This apparatus seems fascinating and would make my md-player useless. More handy than flaptop too. Then I could enjoy my records with just a touch of a button! I don't think it is sonically outstanding as a cd-player though.

If I could just go and shop every electronic gadget from the local hi-fi shop :o

In short, the combo players sound reasonable, but when will dvd audio be available in big time? It may well take 2-5 years and by that time it may well be time for a new player anyway. Those laser heads don't last forever. I'm not a friend of combo things either.

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by Sami M

Recently found out that new mp4 is coming, whatever that means.

It's been out for a while. MP4=AAC, or the format that Apple favours for the iPod.

Sonics aren't (usually) any better than MP3; the advantage is an even smaller file size.

Unfortunately, the popularity of compressed formats like MP3 and AAC, along with mastering that favours absurd hard-limiting and "smiley" EQ means that there is less and less reason to spend big bucks on a good audio system these days. Audio quality is going backwards, and a clear, detailed system will only reveal the shortcomings of modern productions and re-issues.

And it is quite possible that compressed formats will soon be the only way that music is distributed.

[Bernie]

Originally Posted by Graham_Start

And it is quite possible that compressed formats will soon be the only way that music is distributed.

Unfortunately, it seems as you are right Graham. Everyone is gearing up to sell AAC and even the lowly Windows Media files online. The only saving grace may be that with faster broadband options and the push of audiophiles, we may have the option of downloading uncompressed full fidelity AIFF files. However, since DRM (Digital Rights Management) are already built in to the compressed formats I don't see that happening.

[originalbigm]

A came across arather interesting note about vinyl,DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD from an article written this past July/2003 by Jon Iverson for Stereophile Magazine.

Quote:
"SACD and DVD-Audio may be getting all the format news these days, but here's an interesting statistic: sales of vinyl so far this year total 661,000 units, trouncing the 234,000 units sold by DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD combined. The vinyl collectors market is also hot, and VRD's founder, Gary Freiberg, says that his event is both a look back and a look forward "to promote the future of vinyl and to assure [that] the independent labels producing new artists and graphics on vinyl survive."

The event was Gary Freiberg's second Vinyl Record Day celebration in San Luis Obispo, CA on August 16/2003.

I'd like to know what the final numbers for last year would show.

[originalbigm]

Originally Posted by Sami M

Hello folks!

I'm about to upgrade my home hi-fi set (=cd & amp) and all recommendations are wellcome. I thought I ask you too, becouse of the similiar music taste. I want other opinions besides those most usual ones from classic or jazz enthusiasts.

So can you name a few players in the 1000 - 1500 $/? price range? Or can you warn about some models/manufacturers?

Here is an excellent review source for cd players that might fit your budget
http://www.stereophile.com

Check out the review for the "AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD player" in the Digital Source section

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by originalbigm

I'd like to know what the final numbers for last year would show.

The new vinyl market is now down to three groups. I'm assuming that they would be, by sales,

- DJs
- Collectors (i.e. they have no intention of actually playing them, they just look at them)
- Analog audiophiles

It surprises me that vinyl is outselling SACD/DVD-A. I know of many major stores that are selling the hi-rez formats, but only a couple that have any vinyl at all. While DJ turntables and cartridges are widely available now, ones geared for listening and sound quality are quite scarce.

As seems par for the course lately (witness the format chaos with recordable DVDs), the hi-rez movement has shot itself in the foot by having two competing formats out at once (fortunately, we have universal players). But for the average consumer, the only advantage to hi-rez is multi-channel capability. Sonically, the masses are happy with 128kbps MP3s and CDs that have 1db of dynamic range. Consumers will always choose what is most convenient, not what sounds best.

[originalbigm]

Further to this discussion on vinyl vs new formats here are a couple of articles worth reading.

Enjoy The Music

Audio Revolution

[Bernie]

Some good reading there O. Thanks. Almost makes me not want to worry about going after DVD-Audio or SACD, but I think we'll have to give this time since one or the other will likely become the standard for new music releases.

[Mixmachine]

I have been enjoying SACD for a while now, one advantage for this format is better music selection, and Sony (and other labels) finally are releasing more and more “Hybrid” discs at a reasonable price (Stones for 9.99) that also play in all your existing standard red book CD players etc, a big issue for me because I listened to a lot of music in my car, besides this Hybrids will still be playable even if DVD-A becomes the standard.

Stand along SACD players have come down in price a lot lately and according to my readings 'top of the line' Sony models are as good as any out there for regular CD playback too, my player (SCD-CE775) was an entry level discontinued now (It sold for as low as $150 USD on sale) but to my ears it sounds superb and don’t feel any urge to upgrade to anything better yet.

PS: Finally ordered ‘The Best of the Three Degrees” can’t wait to listen to “Love is the message” and “TSOP” in high REZ.