Jump to content

Multi-Disk Changer (Egads!!)


chickey

Recommended Posts

Folks,

After years of putting up with my big old Klipsch speakers, more amps than she can count ("what are those big ugly boxes?"), and a dazzling array of remotes ("I only use the one that turns on the TV"), my wife has finally put her foot down. She wants a CD changer. A fair compromise, even it does mean I may be hearing more Enya and Basia than I'd like...

After I reluctantly accepted the general concept, she casually mentioned her intention of running down to Costco and buying the Daewoo special. That's when I put my foot down. Displaying a bit of obnoxiousness only a pseudo-audiophile could muster, my immediate response was "not in my system you don't!" Met with a temporary obstacle, her millisecond response was "fine, tell me which one to buy and I'll get it, Mr. Perfectionist."

A little reading and research later, I came upon the Sony DVP-CX777ES. 400 disk changer, DVD, SACD, and a host of other goodies. However, I know changers have historically had reliability problems, not to mention sub-optimal audio performance. I'm wondering if this latest generation is any different, and is anyone has any hands-on experience with one of these bad boys. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Colin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My brother in law has a Sony player taking several hundred CDs and it sounds okay to me. Maybe I'm a tin ear. I listen to CD players of various old vintages and find them okay. His unit has never jammed.

It seems to me that there are only philosophical suspicions about budget ($) players which are sophisticated. E.g. isn't the limited money going into cheapo substandard electronics. The veritable kookoo-clocks of mechanisms must be prone to breakdown too.

My belief is that that these probably have more advanced electronics that the single play units of, say, three years ago. The mechanisms are not any more cranky than their forebearers.

Keep the S.O. happy.

Gil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the 777ES would be very good and serve your purposes perfectly. It will provide the WAF with a single hold-all, be-all unit. And as far as I can say with my 333ES 400CD changer, the sound quality is just as good as high quality (though not boutique) single CD players. "Compromise" isn't even the word...because I truly believe the Sony ES line mega changers are built superbly and produce very clean sound, providing the signal throughout the equipment chain is good too. And just taking a gander's eye at your gear, "good" doesn't even describe how outstanding your HT gear is. You? Pseudo audiophile? Nah!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Look into the Pioneer Elite PD-F27. I did a little reasearch on them at the time and I believe it to be the best mega changer available. I bought one a few months ago and I like it. I don't remember the DACs off the top of my head, but I remember them being better then the ones that Sony uses. I only wanted a 100 disc changer like the one that I was replacing, but to get the quality that I wanted I had to get this 300 disc changer. If your looking for the best sound quality to be had in one of these buy the Elite, don't buy Pioneers lower end models. It was only around $500.00, I also bought a combo DVD-Audio/SACD player at the same time, that's why I don't rember the exact price of the Pioneer.

If your as lazy as I am, you can't beat them. I lay back in the recliner and listen to a couple of songs on a CD and then flip to another CD. I'm lucky if I like as many as three songs on any given CD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I noticed you already own a separate DAC... Will you be using it with your new juke-box player?

I ask that because a CD player's character comes from it's DAC more than it's transport... so I think MrMcGoo brought up a valid point. You'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between these units. The only way a transport will change the sound of a CD is if it has a data reading error, which is rare given the low read speed required for a standard red book CD. The internal DACs would be used only SACD and DVDA... two formats which are inherently superior to the red book CD.

On the other hand, if you use the juke-boxes internal DACs, you will be able to hear discreet differences between players when you A/B them.

Good luck...

Rob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have 2 Sony non-ES changers, a 200 & a 300 disk. They are both still working fine. I have always used the digital out to my receiver, so I had no problems with sound.

Not long ago, I did some testing with 4 Cd players & 3 DVD players using only the digital out to my receiver. I could not tell the difference between any of them, with one exception, my $39 Apex DVD player. But it also spends most of its summers out in the sun & dust at the lake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Folks,

Really appreciate all the replies and great input. Looks like my initial trepidation was unwarranted. Of course, I've now fallen down the slippery slope of upgrade-itis. First the changer. Next the pre/pro. Then the monitor. The beauty of this hobby is that it never ends....

Well actually, it stops at the Klipsch. They're staying.

Thanks again!

Colin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...