New(ish) to CD

[gninnam]

Bought my first (and last) CD player around 1987 and after it broke around 93 never bothered again.

With the local secondhand shop selling hundreds of CD's at a pound ago I thought perhaps I should have another look.
Was going to buy a very early CD player a few weeks back but when I got to the sellers house, the demo showed that it wasn't worth anything as it wouldn't play a single CD.
My wife reminded me that we have a bluray player that hardly ever gets used and could I use that - why didn't I think of that......

Now plumbed into the amp and playing some old CD's that I have and the sound is fairly promising :)
Midrange seems a little muddled at times but fairy warm sounding (not bright as I remember) but that could be down to the valve amp.

A quick pic of the unit:

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/20181201_101829_zpsvyqymce7.jpg

I noticed that it has a digital out (coax) so my look at a DAC next year to see if I can make this player sound better - who knows, might buy a proper CD player

[struth]

almost certain to sound better via coax if the dac you get is half decent.

[Macca]

You could do better but it will be perfectly adequate. I used a fairly inexpensive Pioneer DVD player for CD for a couple of years, it wasn't easy to find fault with it.

[gninnam]

Thanks for your comments gents.

Currently looking at some cheap but well regarded DAC's to see if this will help. But my current vinyl system will take some beating to be honest.

Will be interesting to see where I end up over the next few months as I have now finished with the spending on the amp, speakers and vinyl side (very happy with how they work together).

[antonio]

A couple of suggestions without knowing your budget.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOPPING-D30-24Bit-192KHz-Decoder-DSD-Audio-USB-Coaxial-Optical-Fiber-XMOS-EU/182897364530?_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.D EFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170221122447%26meid%3Dd7 552a9fef4148718d28f23481bb2023%26pid%3D100752%26rk %3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D183475950421%26 itm%3D182897364530&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Ject-Project-USB-Box-S-Black-DAC-PC-MAC-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter/283273133392?hash=item41f464fd50:g:KrwAAOSwZKJb9cy L:rk:1:pf:0

[jandl100]

A couple of suggestions without knowing your budget.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOPPING-D30-24Bit-192KHz-Decoder-DSD-Audio-USB-Coaxial-Optical-Fiber-XMOS-EU/182897364530?_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.D EFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170221122447%26meid%3Dd7 552a9fef4148718d28f23481bb2023%26pid%3D100752%26rk %3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D183475950421%26 itm%3D182897364530&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982


+ 1

The Topping D30 gets my vote. It's a stunning sounding DAC. Forget the price, it is embarassingly low, but the sound is imho amazing. :)

You can buy them from Amazon for £93 delivered. -- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Topping-D30-Decoder-Coaxial-Optical/dp/B01JU9EA2U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543737898&sr=8-3&keywords=topping+d30

[gninnam]

Thanks for the recommendations.
Initially will be looking to spend not a lot :) and the Topping recommendation is within that budget.

Has anyone used a XiangSheng DAC-01A Tube DAC as it appears these can be tweaked and the reviews seem favourable?

[Macca]

Thanks for the recommendations.
Initially will be looking to spend not a lot :) and the Topping recommendation is within that budget.

Has anyone used a XiangSheng DAC-01A Tube DAC as it appears these can be tweaked and the reviews seem favourable?

Yes, although I didn't use it with the valve stage switched on. I thought it was a mixed bag. Good midrange, lots of clear detail, a bit odd in the bass. After a while I decided I couldn't live with it, it all seemed a bit too contrived.

It isn't a tube DAC though, the tube is a buffer in the pre-amp stage, all it does is add a bit of distortion - or 'flavour' if you like. I don't like personally as the more of this you add the less of the actual recording you hear.

[jandl100]

The XiangSheng has been one of my favourite DACs for several years.
I think much more highly of it than Martin does.
It was the first cheap Chinese DAC I had tried that handily beat (imo) some well reviewed £1k+ DACs from mainstream makers.

Then the Topping D30 came along and imo is even better sounding.
Also, recent XiangSheng DACs seem to have reliability issues - much to my embarassment someone recently purchased one based on my recommendation. Faulty. The replacement was faulty, too. Hmm.
And then the co-ax digital input on my own one died with a quiet sfffft sort of sound.

I'd go with the Topping D30. Amazing thing.

[gninnam]

Thanks both.
Will look to get the topping soon then.

[Light Capture]

My wife reminded me that we have a bluray player that hardly ever gets used and could I use that - why didn't I think of that......

Now plumbed into the amp and playing some old CD's that I have and the sound is fairly promising :)
I noticed that it has a digital out (coax) so my look at a DAC next year to see if I can make this player sound better - who knows, might buy a proper CD player

I know this is an older post but may be of use to someone. Consider the Schiit Audio Modi3 DAC. After a lot of research I likewise plan on purchasing the Schiit Modi3 or the better Modi Multibit for my BD player for music playback. My 2¢

http://www.schiit.com/products/modi-1

[Bigman80]

+ 1

The Topping D30 gets my vote. It's a stunning sounding DAC. Forget the price, it is embarassingly low, but the sound is imho amazing. :)

You can buy them from Amazon for £93 delivered. -- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Topping-D30-Decoder-Coaxial-Optical/dp/B01JU9EA2U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543737898&sr=8-3&keywords=topping+d30It's hard not to vote for the topping. The performance is superb and was only beaten by a Bel Canto DAC at a recent mini DAC bakeoff.

I was very impressed.

[Light Capture]

I looked at the Topping, but I'm leaning towards the more expensive Modi Multibit.

[gninnam]

Thanks Mike for the recommendation (and Oliver for confirming that the Topping is a top DAC).
Still enjoy the BluRay player as it but have purchased an old Technics CD player (should be here tomorrow) that I will look to mod to be able to use an SPDIF output (or possibly I2S if the filter does this).
Gives me time to look at which DAC to get so the Topping and Schiit are on the current list.

[gninnam]

Got the CD player today and works a treat (cost me a fiver :) )

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/CD%20Player/20181219_191004_zpsg7jh5ukt.jpg

Plan is to get used to the sound then add an SPDIF output to it (doesn't have one) then invest in a DAC - all good fun I hope.

[Light Capture]

You must be a good tech to add digital output. Wouldn't it be easier to buy player with a good transport that has one already?

[dave2010]

You must be a good tech to add digital output. Wouldn't it be easier to buy player with a good transport that has one already?Perhaps Andy likes a challenge!

Might be easy for someone who knows how to do these things, and impossibly hard for almost everyone else.

[hifinutt]

Got my rotel 965bx out recently and it really is delightful. Easily available on eBay for very little

[gninnam]

I like a challenge ;)
Not started the conversion as yet as been busy over the festive period so hopefully start in the next few weeks and will document the process if anyone else fancies having a go :)