| Author |
Message |
Colin B.
Guest
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 Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:38 pm Post subject:
CD player quality recommendation |
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Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player (matsumagnashitasonic or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand item from
someone?
Thanks,
Colin
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DaveL
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:23 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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I don't know if I qualify as a techie but I did recently replace my Yamaha
CD changer with a Denon unit that has an onboard Burr-Brown DAC and the
difference in sound quality (frequency response and audible distortion) is
startling to say the least. To say that they have all reached perfection is
incorrect. I have also heard that DVD players seldom sound near as good as
a quality CD player. You probably should audition many of them back to back
and hear for yourself.
DaveL
"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:43679a1e@news.nucleus.com...
| Quote: | Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only
modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player (matsumagnashitasonic
or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand item
from
someone?
Thanks,
Colin |
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harrogate2
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:20 am Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:43679a1e@news.nucleus.com...
| Quote: | Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which
are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential
perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my
ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to
see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only
modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player
(matsumagnashitasonic or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand
item from
someone?
Thanks,
Colin
|
For middle of road - better than cr*p and not esoteric - look at
Marantz, Denon, or NAD. Marantz may be a touch mre pricey, especially
the SE versions, but they are good.
--
Woody
harrogate2 at ntlworld dot com |
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Geoff@home
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:43679a1e@news.nucleus.com...
| Quote: | Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only
modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player (matsumagnashitasonic
or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand item
from
someone?
|
I have never copme across a carusel 'changer' type player that works
reliably with a wide sample of CD-Rs.
This presumably implies that they are more prone to read errors, potentially
affecting sound quality, even if not failing on a disc.
geoff |
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Colin B.
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:30 am Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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Geoff@home <geoff@nospam-paf.co.nz> wrote:
| Quote: |
"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:43679a1e@news.nucleus.com...
Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only
modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player (matsumagnashitasonic
or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand item
from
someone?
I have never copme across a carusel 'changer' type player that works
reliably with a wide sample of CD-Rs.
This presumably implies that they are more prone to read errors, potentially
affecting sound quality, even if not failing on a disc.
|
Interesting. However, my Denon carousel changer has never failed to play
anything, including borderline CD-RWs. |
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Codifus
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:29 am Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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DaveL wrote:
| Quote: | I don't know if I qualify as a techie but I did recently replace my
Yamaha CD changer with a Denon unit that has an onboard Burr-Brown DAC
and the difference in sound quality (frequency response and audible
distortion) is startling to say the least. To say that they have all
reached perfection is incorrect. I have also heard that DVD players
seldom sound near as good as a quality CD player. You probably should
audition many of them back to back and hear for yourself.
DaveL
"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:43679a1e@news.nucleus.com...
Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only
modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player
(matsumagnashitasonic or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand
item from
someone?
Thanks,
Colin
Is it the Burr Brown DAC that made things better, or just the newer, |
better technilogy? The reason I ask is because I bought a Panasonic DVD
player which retired my Denon CD changer with Burr Brown DAC. The Denon
DCM-270 is an older model which has no up-sampling so I think that may
have been the factor in why the Panasonic always sounded better than it.
CD |
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Mr.T
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:02 am Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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|
"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:4367c270@news.nucleus.com...
| Quote: | I have never copme across a carusel 'changer' type player that works
reliably with a wide sample of CD-Rs.
This presumably implies that they are more prone to read errors,
potentially
affecting sound quality, even if not failing on a disc.
Interesting. However, my Denon carousel changer has never failed to play
anything, including borderline CD-RWs.
|
Nor has my old Yamaha, but I will admit it's a bit of a lottery with some
players.
MrT. |
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DaveL
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
|
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"Codifus" <codifus@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:Q6R9f.5218$ex4.4454@fe08.lga...
| Quote: | DaveL wrote:
I don't know if I qualify as a techie but I did recently replace my
Yamaha CD changer with a Denon unit that has an onboard Burr-Brown DAC
and the difference in sound quality (frequency response and audible
distortion) is startling to say the least. To say that they have all
reached perfection is incorrect. I have also heard that DVD players
seldom sound near as good as a quality CD player. You probably should
audition many of them back to back and hear for yourself.
DaveL
Is it the Burr Brown DAC that made things better, or just the newer,
better technilogy? The reason I ask is because I bought a Panasonic DVD
player which retired my Denon CD changer with Burr Brown DAC. The Denon
DCM-270 is an older model which has no up-sampling so I think that may
have been the factor in why the Panasonic always sounded better than it.
CD
|
Well, from what I have read on the internet it is the Burr-Brown DAC that is
responsible from the superior sound quality. The model I have is the
DCM-370. It's not perfect by any means but it does sound awesome. My
engineer brother-in-law also recommended a Burr-Brown DAC. Some high
quality separate DACs also use the same chip.
DaveL |
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Tai Fu
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:56 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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I did audition a real CD player and a pioneer DVD player but I can't hear
much difference. Well it sounds different but not enough to justify spending
200 dollars more on...
I was under the impression that if you buy a 1000 dollar CD player it
wouldn't sound that much different from a cheap DVD player anyways... more
like 10% or less. But real audiophiles might have something different to
say.
--
TAI FU
http://creationism.dyndns.org/ |
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Stewart Pinkerton
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
|
|
On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:38:57 GMT, "Colin B."
<cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which are
audibly flawed?
|
Audio Note, YBA 'blue laser', and probably several other so-called
'high end' players which are sufficiently badly designed as to have
audible differences.
Otherwise, apart *possibly* from some of the really cheap ones where
everything has been cut to the bone, no.
| Quote: | From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player (matsumagnashitasonic or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand item from
someone?
|
It's always a good idea to borrow something genuinely state of the
art, such as a current Meridian, just to prove the point.
--
Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering |
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Stewart Pinkerton
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 09:23:18 -0800, "DaveL" <AKA Snake> wrote:
| Quote: | I don't know if I qualify as a techie but I did recently replace my Yamaha
CD changer with a Denon unit that has an onboard Burr-Brown DAC and the
difference in sound quality (frequency response and audible distortion) is
startling to say the least. To say that they have all reached perfection is
incorrect. I have also heard that DVD players seldom sound near as good as
a quality CD player. You probably should audition many of them back to back
and hear for yourself.
|
There is nothing so convincing as pride of ownership! :-)
The reality is that any mainstream CD player built in the last fifteen
years has utterly inaudible distortion, and a ruler-flat frequency
response - whatever the clowns in the ragazines may say to justify
their existence. My own 'Chinky cheapy' Pioneer DV-575A universal
player sounds identical to a genuinely state of the art Meridian 588.
--
Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering |
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Stewart Pinkerton
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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|
On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 16:57:00 -0800, "DaveL" <AKA Snake> wrote:
| Quote: | Well, from what I have read on the internet it is the Burr-Brown DAC that is
responsible from the superior sound quality. The model I have is the
DCM-370. It's not perfect by any means but it does sound awesome. My
engineer brother-in-law also recommended a Burr-Brown DAC. Some high
quality separate DACs also use the same chip.
|
Absolute hooey, audibly identical results can be obtained from
Crystal, AD or Wolfson chips. Burr-Brown *was* the 'Rolls-Royce'
converter brand in the '70s and '80s, but technology has moved ahead,
and 24/192 DACs are now commodity items.
Your 'engineer' brother in law is badly out of touch with current
technology.
--
Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering |
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Mark D. Zacharias
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:49 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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"harrogate2" <harrogate2@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:JlO9f.15480$Sx4.83@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
| Quote: |
"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:43679a1e@news.nucleus.com...
Quick question for the techies out there.
Are there any currently available CD or DVD players out there which
are
audibly flawed?
From all I've heard, CD players seem to have hit essential
perfection a
few years ago. I've been considering getting a replacement for my
ancient
(i.e. ~16 years old) player, but want to do some listening first, to
see
how important it is in the grand scheme of things. However, the only
modern
CD player I have available is a no-name DVD player
(matsumagnashitasonic or
some such thing). Can I count on something this cheap to be audibly
nonexistent, or am I going to have to borrow at least a name-brand
item from
someone?
Thanks,
Colin
For middle of road - better than cr*p and not esoteric - look at
Marantz, Denon, or NAD. Marantz may be a touch mre pricey, especially
the SE versions, but they are good.
--
Woody
harrogate2 at ntlworld dot com
|
Denon late model optical players are some of the least reliable ever made
and they don't support them worth a damn. NAD is average at best, Marantz is
Philips-built. Stay away.
For mass market stuff go with Pioneer number 1, Sony 2.
Mark Z. |
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Arny Krueger
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:14 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
|
|
"DaveL" <AKA Snake> wrote in message
news:xdGdnff9YtrDOfreRVn-oA@comcast.com
| Quote: | I don't know if I qualify as a techie but I did recently
replace my Yamaha CD changer with a Denon unit that has
an onboard Burr-Brown DAC and the difference in sound
quality (frequency response and audible distortion) is
startling to say the least.
|
Let's recap. Dave had a Yamaha in unknown operating
condition. It could have poor tracking and dried out caps,
as well as many other technical faults. He might never know
it until he buys a new player that will likely track well
and be in pretty good operating condition.
Ever hear of the parable of the boiled frog?
http://allaboutfrogs.org/stories/boiled.html
There's also the slight matter of excitement and feelings of
optimism that can arise when one buys something new. Not a
problem, it can actually be a pretty neat experience, but
that loud slam you just heard is objectivity running out the
door.
Dave then attributes all of his favorable perceptions to the
manufacturer of the DAC chips in the new player.
Are there any people who can sucessfully do critical
thinking in the house? ;-)
| Quote: | To say that they have all reached perfection is
incorrect.
|
Needless to say, Dave is basing this conclusion on
who-knows-what. Really, there are so many extraneous
influences that its hard to count them.
| Quote: | I have also heard that
DVD players seldom sound near as good as a quality CD
player.
|
Dave re-pledges his allegance to his new overpriced,
obsolete-when-built, CD player.
| Quote: | You probably should audition many of them back
to back and hear for yourself.
|
Been there, done that.
If you match levels, time-synch the discs, and manage
listener bias (which almost nobody ever does), then a ton of
them starting at about $39.95 are sonically
indistinguishable. |
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Brian
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject:
Re: CD player quality recommendation |
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I was messing around the other day with my home stereo, and decided to
play a cd through the DVD player, using the fiber optic digital audio
hookup. I thought it sounded better than the cd player, but then again
my cd player is 15 years old, so it might not have been a fair
comparison.
| Quote: | I have also heard that
DVD players seldom sound near as good as a quality CD
player.
|
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