Is it time to stock up with a few good CD players?

[walpurgis]

CD is 'going out of fashion' apparently, downloads now exceeding CD album sales. So maybe, before they all get snapped up, now is the time (while they're still affordable), to put aside a couple of good players or transports. I love my CDs (and vinyl) and have three decent players, which should keep me going. But, we all know that CD players don't last forever, so just having one, to me at least, would give me a slight sense of vulnerability. What do you lot think?

[struth]

If you can pick up good transports cheap and have room to store, it will be a very wise move. I would not spend too much on one now though. The pioneer 717 that I have is still working flawlessly since I cured its drawer jumps. I'd get another if I could.

[Stratmangler]

CD is 'going out of fashion' apparently

Which rock have you been hiding under?
Linn announced that they would stop making CD players in late 2009.
The only thing keeping any kind of buoyancy in the CD disc market is that the major providers of download music do not provide lossless downloads, so buying the disc and ripping it to HDD is a widespread practice. It's often less expensive than purchasing the download equivalent too.

My mother plays CDs, but she is in her 70s and struggles with modern technology :eyebrows:

[walpurgis]

Linn announced that they would stop making CD players in late 2009.

That's what I was getting at. Good new sensibly priced players are getting thinner on the ground!

As for "ripping" CDs, well I do that. But, I also like playing mine.

[Stratmangler]

That's what I was getting at. Good new sensibly priced players are getting thinner on the ground!

As for "ripping" CDs, well I do that. But, I also like playing mine.

I haven't played a CD at home for a very long time.
Possibly since September 2007, when I bought my first Squeezebox (a SB3 nee Classic).
I do play CDs in the car, but even this has diminished hugely, as I usually play albums from my phone or my son's iPod if I'm not listening to the radio.

I still have a machine that can play CDs in the rack, but it hasn't been powered up since I bought a Bluray player, which again has been quite a while, sometime in the middle of 2011.
I have not ever put a CD disc into the Bluray player, even though it will quite happily play them.
I do not rip Bluray disc to HDD because they contain absolutely enormous amounts of data - it's actually easier to pop a disc in the player than it is to rip it, so in a small way things have come full circle here.

[walpurgis]

I have not ever put a CD disc into the Bluray player, even though it will quite happily play them.

How can you tell? :scratch:

[Stratmangler]

How can you tell? :scratch:

It says on the spec sheet that it will.
I can't be bothered finding out to be truthful, not even to answer your question.
And if Panasonic were lying about the CD compatibility, so what? It's of no consequence to me whether the BDP can play CDs or not.

The DVD drive in all of the computers read CDs, and that's more than good enough to rip the material to HDD.

[Eagle owl]

I'm already stocked up, three dedicated CD players, a Sony Playstation 3, a Meridian M80 and a personal Cd player. :)

[zygote23]

I don't have one anymore but I just spotted a nice bargain on the Abrahamsen site.

[Spectral Morn]

I have quiet a few, too many really but as I really only play CDs, downloads is something I only rarely do and my recent HD failure, has hardened my attitude towards not doing this much more than I do, I think holding on to them is wise. The arrival of HD tracks in the UK is a good thing, re sound quality, but paying big money for a download that could be corrupted during the transmission process or parts or all lost due to an Internet drop out puts me off trying this.

For the foreseeable future I will stick with physical media, CDs and to a lesser extent new vinyl.



Regards Neil

[Ali Tait]

No problem there Neil, AFAIK you can dowload again from HD Tracks if there's a problem.

[Spectral Morn]

No problem there Neil, AFAIK you can dowload again from HD Tracks if there's a problem.

Hi Ali, I didn't realise that was possible, thought one only got one crack at it.


Regards Neil

[Ali Tait]

You do with the bloody Linn site!

I lost the last track on a download, emailed them for help and never got a reply. Won't be buying anything from them again.

It's been a while, I used to download from HD tracks before it was allowed over here, but your account will keep a record of all your downloads, I think you can download again if necessary.

[Ali Tait]

Ah, just tried to log in on the UK site, has no record of me.

[Stratmangler]

CD Baby keep track of any downloads you buy, and you can download them again if necessary.

[AlexM]

UK HD tracks store is looking very sparse indeed - almost nothing listed there. What is listed is £14 upwards, which is a rip. I think I'll carry on using the US store if I feel the need...l

[Ali Tait]

Can you still link to it?

I've tried and it keeps taking me to the UK site.

[NRG]

Even 'downloads' are like, soooooo, last century dudes.... It really is all going the streaming route now if my daughter and her friends are anything to go by. Teenagers just don't bother with downloads anymore it seems, they use the likes of Spotify. They can take their playlists with them when out and about even without an internet connection and have easy access to waaay more material when they want. Even a number of my middle age friends have stopped buying from iTunes or Amazon and just use Spotify for all their music....we are a very small strange group of enthusiasts! :D

[The Black Adder]

I see cd players in an increasingly cynical light these days. The problem is, if you look at buying something recently deemed as low to medium end 'audiophile' (sorry I had to use that word) you will (in my opinion) be wasting your money because cd tech is so homogenised and well known these days that the quality of the tech (in general) I feel is now not worth the money. CD tech is (or can be) cheap and nasty, with plastic everything and nothing quality, hardly any new innovations appear in the market that would allow for a viable robust unit.

Only companies such as Esoteric still invest in the engineering side but then they cost bonkers money.

Most of the price you pay for is for the casework and profit margins. The innards are cheap like the budgie.

The really cheapo ugly rattlebox cd players are probably your best bet, they are plentyful and cheap in the first place so they will be oodles of them floating around in the market for donkeys so no need to stock up.

[Wakefield Turntables]

My CD playing is now very little. I cant remember when I bought a proper priced CD. I mainly play the CD's which come with vinyl or charity shop buys.

[The Black Adder]

My CD playing is now very little. I cant remember when I bought a proper priced CD. I mainly play the CD's which come with vinyl or charity shop buys.

I'll have your 25X off you then... lol

[jandl100]

DACs are still thriving, I believe --- so a decent cheap Pioneer DVD player used as a CD transport and you're sorted. :)

[brian2957]

It's at least 4 years since I got my server . I haven't played a CD since . I bought this the other day http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?35160-Denon-DVD-3910-SACD-player-for-sale&highlight=denon+3910
I'm hoping it's a decent CD player . If it's better than the server I'll be more than happy . It also has an HDMI output so should be able to replace my Blu ray player too , which isn't very good with CDs .

[The Black Adder]

Good choice... that is a proper concrete bunker of a cd/dvd player. I'm sure you will be very happy with it. :)

[walpurgis]

DACs are still thriving, I believe --- so a decent cheap Pioneer DVD player used as a CD transport and you're sorted. :)

Not sure it's quite that simple. A decent CD player always seem to give better results through a good DAC.

Anyway, I started this thread, basically, because many people (like me) have large collections of CDs, enjoy them and want to be able to keep using them. Hence the question about stocking up on players. I know you can rip them to PC, but the sound is better played directly (to me).

[brian2957]

I'm hoping to get it today Joe so I'll let you know . One thing is for sure if James ( isitari knight ) , who I'm buying it from , says it's good then it's a sure bet that it's a bit special .

[brian2957]

Does it have to be a dedicated CD player Geoff . What about DVD and Blu- ray players that can do justice to the CD medium ?

[walpurgis]

Does it have to be a dedicated CD player Geoff . What about DVD and Blu- ray players that can do justice to the CD medium ?

I've tried a couple of decent DVD players (and all sorts of cheap and mid priced CD players) and so far find a proper, good CD player is better.

[jandl100]

I know you can rip them to PC, but the sound is better played directly (to me).

I completely agree with that - I've not heard a PC/streamer-based system I would take over CD.


I've tried a couple if decent DVD players (and all sorts of cheap and mid priced CD players) and so far find a proper, good CD player is better.

Ah well, I guess we have different experiences. In my experience many cheapo Pioneer DVDPs beat most CD players or dedicated CD transports at getting the ones and zeroes off a CD. But then you have to find a DAC that takes your fancy (not hard).

[brian2957]

Well the servers which Gary ( gazjam ) builds are a bit special IMO so we'll see .

[dantheman91]

Yep thought the same recently so stocked up with a couple of techies but still looking out for more cheapish ones but good ones :)

[Spectral Morn]

I have yet to hear any DVD based player sound better than a dedicated CD player/transport. I use a Toshiba 9500 (also used a 900 too) as a DVD A transport, coax digital output fed into an Esoteric D5 DAC for DVD A but re Red Book, nope its not as good as using any of my dedicated Red Book players.

I hate to say this but as a dedicated CD playback choice its an epic fail too, so has been the case with all the DVD players I have tried (all high-end DVD players, from Sony, Denon, Pioneer, Meridian etc) as CD playback medium and were possible all video circuits have been switched off etc, still mediocre.




Regards Neil

[walpurgis]

I completely agree with that - I've not heard a PC/streamer-based system I would take over CD.



Ah well, I guess we have different experiences. In my experience many cheapo Pioneer DVDPs beat most CD players or dedicated CD transports at getting the ones and zeroes off a CD. But then you have to find a DAC that takes your fancy (not hard).

A proper good DAC is a rare thing in my book. The minimum is maybe something older from Theta or Meridian. Stuff from say, Audio Alchemy and Cambridge for instance (that I've tried), just doesn't quite cut it.

[brian2957]

Aye I've put the Tecnnics SL PG490 on my list too . Supposed to be very good for the money .

[brian2957]

I have yet to hear any DVD based player sound better than a dedicated CD player/transport. I use a Toshiba 9500 (also used a 900 too) as a DVD A transport, coax digital output fed into an Esoteric D5 DAC for DVD A but re Red Book, nope its not as good as using any of my dedicated Red Book players.

I hate to say this but as a dedicated CD playback choice its an epic fail too, so has been the case with all the DVD players I have tried (all high-end DVD players, from Sony, Denon, Pioneer, Meridian etc) as CD playback medium and were possible all video circuits have been switched off etc, still mediocre.




Regards Neil

Is that both with and without a DAC Neil ?

[jandl100]

Aye I've put the Tecnnics SL PG490 on my list too . Supposed to be very good for the money .

:thumbsup: I've got two. Not just 'good for the money', either. ;)

[Spectral Morn]

Is that both with and without a DAC Neil ?

Yes on Red Bood CD playback.

Obviously DVD A sounds much better than CDs, DVD A is similar to SACD but different sounding.


Regards Neil

[jandl100]

Pioneer DVDPs, that's the reliable way to go.

I've no idea how good a Tosh is. Many DVD players I have tried aren't good as a CDT, but the Pioneers seem to have the trick of it, imo.

[walpurgis]

Yep thought the same recently so stocked up with a couple of techies but still looking out for more cheapish ones but good ones :)

The rather scarce NAD 524 is a good unit and can be used as a transport. Even better is the Pioneer PD-S505 Precision, two of which I have in my collection and they sound very musical indeed.

[walpurgis]

Pioneer DVDPs, that's the reliable way to go.

I've no idea how good a Tosh is. Many DVD players I have tried aren't good as a CDT, but the Pioneers seem to have the trick of it, imo.

My rather imposing Pioneer DV-717 is OK as a transport, but not as good as the Pioneer PD-S505 Precision CD player, let alone my Meridian 507.

[jandl100]

I suspect that one issue here, Geoff, is that we have somewhat different definitions of what 'good' means!

We have different tastes in audio. :)

[Spectral Morn]

Pioneer DVDPs, that's the reliable way to go.

I've no idea how good a Tosh is. Many DVD players I have tried aren't good as a CDT, but the Pioneers seem to have the trick of it, imo.

Tried Pioneer too and a fairly high end one (868 avi)

When I had less space, a number of years ago I wanted to reduce the number of bits of kit so I tried a lot of this and still do try from time to time more recently but DVD players are best used as DVD players for films and CD Players for CD/music imho.

Its also fair to say I feel that SACD sounds best via dedicated players too not DVD players that happen to play them.

Dedicated function/design is in my experience always best, rather than multitasking items, that are based on DVD transports.


Regards Neil

[Spectral Morn]

Pioneer DVDPs, that's the reliable way to go.

I've no idea how good a Tosh is. Many DVD players I have tried aren't good as a CDT, but the Pioneers seem to have the trick of it, imo.

The SD 900 (in the USA 9200) and SD 9500 were state of the art, flagship items and loss leaders in that Toshiba lost money on them. Its hard to imagine now, that a relatively short time ago, companies like Toshiba and JVC were fairly highend as well as mass market, sadly these days more a case of a name only and not much of what once was behind them. Battleship build, copper shielding and high quality components.

The Toshiba 9200, was a Stereophile Class A for DVD A playback product (after a follow up review) when it was reviewed just after it came to market.

http://www.stereophile.com/hirezplayers/407/


Regards Neil

[The Black Adder]

I've heard good things about the Toshy... Wouldn't mind to try one actually.

[walpurgis]

I suspect that one issue here, Geoff, is that we have somewhat different definitions of what 'good' means!

We have different tastes in audio. :)

Well Jerry, my system is pretty high resolution and I can easily hear any differences between pieces of equipment. So something that is "good" shows itself clearly (and vice versa).

[The Barbarian]

Ive been at the stage for a long time where my CDP is just an ornament these days. 100% vinyl dedicaturd. Just have absolutely no desire to switch the thing on.

[jandl100]

Well Jerry, my system is pretty high resolution and I can easily hear any differences between pieces of equipment. So something that is "good" shows itself clearly (and vice versa).

I hear what you say, Geoff.

But anyone who listens to Tannoy DC speakers without having to be forced to do so by being chained to the chair, and who also rates Meridian electronics, most definitely has different audio tastes to me! I would class the former as horrid, and the latter as merely uninteresting.

I'm happy to agree to differ and just say 'horses for courses'. You run at Chepstow, I'll have a canter at Goodwood. ;)

[The Black Adder]

But anyone who listens to Tannoy DC speakers without having to be forced to do so by being chained to the chair

:rolleyes:

[The Barbarian]

I hear what you say, Geoff.

But anyone who listens to Tannoy DC speakers without having to be forced to do so by being chained to the chair.



:D

[hoopsontoast]

I have had both the Toshiba SD9500 and my current battleship Sony S9000ES, both good players but the Sony is much better IMO. Even better now I fitted it with a new Laser, ready for another 10+ years of use!

The SD9500 was interesting, mainly as it had the DAC inputs I wanted, but I found the picture quality to be lower than the Sony, as well as the overall sound.
It really is the best CD source I have owned, better than the Teac VRDS 10SE and Rega Apollo-R I have had (amongst a few others, Sony 930QS and Philips CD-850).
The Sony just sounds better than the Teac, Rega and Toshiba mentioned mainly as it seems really well balanced while extended, especially at the top while never being harsh at all. The Rega seemed a bit splashy and odd in the bass in comparison, and that was with positive expectation bias (new, nice compact box and I have a thing for Rega) but the Sony gave me more reasons to keep it and sell the Apollo-R.

If I can find another S9000ES for free like mine, and another couple of lasers for the future, I would happily start stockpiling them! :lol: