Poll: Differences between CD players; Worthwhile amount to spend.

[psg]

?<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>only subtle differences between CD/DVD players regardless of priceonly subtle differences between CD players regardless of priceonly subtle differences up to $1000, but never tried more than $1000only subtle differences up to $1000, significant differences abovesignificant differences up to $1000, but never tried more than $1000significant differences up to $1000, subtle differences beyond $1000significant differences between all CD players regardless of pricedon't know but would love to know

[psg]

I voted " don't know but would love to know" and hence this poll.

I used $1000 as a guide only. If you think there's a step at $500

or some other number, then vote as if that number was listed instead of

$1000.

Thanks!

[wmilas]

I think the question is phrased wrong. If you are only using the cd

player for the transport (ie keeping the data streaming digital pcm to

an external decoder) all you care about is that the clock stays synched

to reduce jitter. Damn near any cd player thats more than 50 bux

nowadays does this fine.

If you are talking about using the cd players analog outs and thus

using its DA converter, thats a whole other ball of wax. Thats when you

can get a bunch of different sounding units.

[dbflash]

I am not going to do this now because I just spent all my fun money on a pair of KHorns but I am hoping to do this next year.

I have bought the Rega CD player. It sits in the closet. I had bad luck with Rega and I will never buy anything from them again. Just me.

I bought a Heart 6000 which is in my main system. I really like it but I have a addition and its called upgrade fever.

I want to try seperate transport and DAC's.

I want to buy new as in the equipment is still made and hasn't ben discontinued in the mid 80's because the company went out of business but can still be found on AGon.

If you had $4,500 (you are a better person than I am) to spend on an upgrade what would you buy?

I am looking at Audio Note only because I heard it was good. I have never heard the equipment.

If I could place an order today I would get a CDT One ($2,200) and a DAC1.1xMKII Signiture ($2000).

What other options are out there?

This is just a dream right now, but I never thought I'd end up getting the KHorns that I bought either.

Thanks,

Danny

[Daddy Dee]

Danny,

Glad to hear you like the Heart. I've got one and it sounds very sweet.

[dbflash]

For the money I like it alot. It has served me well.

I was going to get the AH, but Kevin never called me back and Frank was so nice and up front I went with the Heart.

I may need to replace my tubes. The same tubes have been in use since Oct 2002. My system sounds so good now, but you know how the upgrade bug hits you.

Danny

[Allan Songer]

I came rather late to CDs. I didn't buy my first CD player until around 1991 or so and that was a Kyocera that is still in use in my garage--it's built like a tank, beautifully made and sounds like crap!

In the late 1990's I bought a Rega Planet and it has served me well --it too is really nicely made and has been really reliable--it still sees daily use in my wife's office system. Nice player--very warm sounding.

The third player I bought was one of the original AH! Tjoeb players back in 1999 (purchased directly from Herman before he had a US distriubutor). It sounds MUCH better than the Kyocera and more than holds its own with the Rega but is REALLY cheaply made and is now in my second system.

Finally, in 2001 I broke down and started looking for a really good CD player for my main system, as I had collected hundreds of CDs and was buying more all the time. I still listen to vinyl 80% of the time or more, but CDs are more and more "in the mix." I tried several players over 2-3 months and finally settled on the BAT VK-D5 which retailed for $4000 at the time (I got it for A LOT less from a friend who was then a dealer). Some have commented that the BAT sounds "dark," but what I hear is really warm and lush yet highly detailed. It is beautifully made and there was only one glitch--the transport went KAPUT! early on but was fixed under warranty and the player hasn't missed a beat since.

[Duke Spinner]

CD's Alan .......???

i'm incredulous.....the Silver Bane of HiFi ....in your home

[]

[Allan Songer]

The b*stards left me with no choice!!

[DrWho]

I think the question is phrased wrong. If you are only using the cd

player for the transport (ie keeping the data streaming digital pcm to

an external decoder) all you care about is that the clock stays synched

to reduce jitter. Damn near any cd player thats more than 50 bux

nowadays does this fine.

If you are talking about using the cd players analog outs and thus

using its DA converter, thats a whole other ball of wax. Thats when you

can get a bunch of different sounding units.

Ditto that...

I wanted to vote for the first one (DVD/CD sounds the same), but there

are players out there that just plain suck in any price range -

including expensive ones...sometimes even when using the digital

outputs! (talk about crappy clocks). But these are all things easily

noticed upon first listening to the unit.

That said, I have always recommended that CD/DVD player purchases be

first based on the transport (how the unit controls the CD). For

example, I will never purchase a Denon CD/DVD player because I can't

stand how the transport functions (especially the seeking). I know

they're not typically known for high quality, but Sony actually makes

some very very nice players. In fact, Sony is my second choice after

Carver (which I believe is out of business now? or they just don't make

cd players anymore).

If you're considering the HTPC route, then you can always go with your

computer's player (make sure you use the digital output from your drive

and not the analog one) - then go with an external USB/Firewire DAC and

you'll have the best sound available (afterall, this is what the

studios are doing).

[psg]

I think the question is phrased wrong. If you are only using the cd

player for the transport (ie keeping the data streaming digital pcm to

an external decoder) all you care about is that the clock stays synched

to reduce jitter. Damn near any cd player thats more than 50 bux

nowadays does this fine.

If you are talking about using the cd players analog outs and thus

using its DA converter, thats a whole other ball of wax. Thats when you

can get a bunch of different sounding units.

I am talking about analog outputs. Thanks for seeking that clarification.

[Speedball]

The denon 2900 "movie" picture quality is a huge step above the $130.00 sony player I have.

Now......the denon 2900 "cd music" playback (side by side the sony) through paradigm studio 40 speakers and denon #685 stereo receiver seemed no better than the sony player. This really suprised me.

[Duke Spinner]

I think the question is phrased wrong. If you are only using the cd

player for the transport (ie keeping the data streaming digital pcm to

an external decoder) all you care about is that the clock stays synched

to reduce jitter. Damn near any cd player thats more than 50 bux

nowadays does this fine.

If you are talking about using the cd players analog outs and thus

using its DA converter, thats a whole other ball of wax. Thats when you

can get a bunch of different sounding units.

Ditto that...

I wanted to vote for the first one (DVD/CD sounds the same), but there

are players out there that just plain suck in any price range -

including expensive ones...sometimes even when using the digital

outputs! (talk about crappy clocks). But these are all things easily

noticed upon first listening to the unit.

That said, I have always recommended that CD/DVD player purchases be

first based on the transport (how the unit controls the CD). For

example, I will never purchase a Denon CD/DVD player because I can't

stand how the transport functions (especially the seeking). I know

they're not typically known for high quality, but Sony actually makes

some very very nice players. In fact, Sony is my second choice after

Carver (which I believe is out of business now? or they just don't make

cd players anymore).

If you're considering the HTPC route, then you can always go with your

computer's player (make sure you use the digital output from your drive

and not the analog one) - then go with an external USB/Firewire DAC and

you'll have the best sound available (afterall, this is what the

studios are doing).

your "Carver" CD player .....

was made by Yamaha

[smilin]

I have owned over 30 players in the past 2 years(up to 40k), and YES, there are HUGE differences. I would put my current player against the FINEST vinyl rigs anywhere[] Yep, and dats the thruth.

[DrWho]

I

think the question is phrased wrong. If you are only using the cd

player for the transport (ie keeping the data streaming digital pcm to

an external decoder) all you care about is that the clock stays synched

to reduce jitter. Damn near any cd player thats more than 50 bux

nowadays does this fine.

If you are talking about using the cd players analog outs and thus

using its DA converter, thats a whole other ball of wax. Thats when you

can get a bunch of different sounding units.

Ditto that...

I wanted to vote for the first one (DVD/CD sounds the same), but there

are players out there that just plain suck in any price range -

including expensive ones...sometimes even when using the digital

outputs! (talk about crappy clocks). But these are all things easily

noticed upon first listening to the unit.

That said, I have always recommended that CD/DVD player purchases be

first based on the transport (how the unit controls the CD). For

example, I will never purchase a Denon CD/DVD player because I can't

stand how the transport functions (especially the seeking). I know

they're not typically known for high quality, but Sony actually makes

some very very nice players. In fact, Sony is my second choice after

Carver (which I believe is out of business now? or they just don't make

cd players anymore).

If you're considering the HTPC route, then you can always go with your

computer's player (make sure you use the digital output from your drive

and not the analog one) - then go with an external USB/Firewire DAC and

you'll have the best sound available (afterall, this is what the

studios are doing).

your "Carver" CD player .....

was made by Yamaha

How do you know? Is there a Yamaha equivalent to the "Carver series"? I

forget the model number but it was the best sounding cd player I've

ever heard (using analog outputs)...and we had 3 of them in the studio,

but sold 2 of them. Everyonce in a while I'll go scour all the used

equipment places (audiogon, ebay, etc etc) and have yet to find one for

sale. I am a bit surprised that it was a Yamaha unit, but perhaps that's why they were selling under the carver name []

[Duke Spinner]

i don't think there were mdel equivilents per say .....

just that Yammie mfgr'd tha stuff for Carver

i've got 3 of them a sd 450, and a couple multi disc's ...for

convenience ......i use the 450 a lot in a second

stereo

the Audio Alchemy trounces it handily tho ....

[Gilbert]

The b*stards left me with no choice!!

Ditto that, I predicted the future of TT's and LP's as dead, and gave away all my LP's (several hundred). This was pre-ebay era.

But I out-lasted you Alan. I reluctantly purchased my first CD (Houses of the Holy) in 1996, and only because my then new vehicle only came with a CD player.

By the way, what does LP stand for?

[Parrot]

Long Player.

[scott0527]

The b*stards left me with no choice!!

Ditto that, I predicted the future of TT's and LP's as dead, and gave away all my LP's (several hundred). This was pre-ebay era.

But I out-lasted you Alan. I reluctantly purchased my first CD (Houses of the Holy) in 1996, and only because my then new vehicle only came with a CD player.

By the way, what does LP stand for?

You gotta wonder why they didn't call them 33's?

[Parrot]

Long player was to emphasize how much more playing time you'd get as opposed to a 78 side, which would have just a few minutes.

From BBC history of vinyl:

1948 Columbia introduces the first 12-inch

33-1/3 rpm microgroove LP vinylite record with 23-minute play-time per

side it also has a special turntable to play them on made by Philco

1949 RCA Victor introduce the 7-inch 45 rpm micro-groove vinyl single and compatible turn table.

1949 Capitol became the first major label to support all three recording speeds of 78, 45, 33-1/3 rpm