Not again! What's a good reasonably priced CD player?

[Mr. Widget]

..I will verify that it sounded great to me. Have never heard a $5K deck so I cant compare, but it sounded as good as my ES deck.

I don't disagree with your assessment. I think it sounds about the same as any decent player, that said, you can pick up some very good single disc players for sub $25 these days... no one wants them.

My issue with the Sony PS1 is that it is no better than any other inexpensive deck is a PITA to use and certainly isn't better sounding than the expensive decks as some seem to think. I basically said as much when I reviewed it on that thread about them.


Widget

[BMWCCA]

For anyone following this thread, here's the H-K DVD-22 in a refurb from Harman for only $40 (original MSRP $249):

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_br...ber=DVD%2022-Z

[SEAWOLF97]

I don't disagree with your assessment. I think it sounds about the same as any decent player, that said, you can pick up some very good single disc players for sub $25 these days... no one wants them.

My issue with the Sony PS1 is that it is no better than any other inexpensive deck is a PITA to use and certainly isn't better sounding than the expensive decks as some seem to think. I basically said as much when I reviewed it on that thread about them.


Widget

I agree, W , and you made a good point. Single disk players are cheap, but 5 disk carousels are even cheaper. They take up real estate and who needs to load 5 disks. I got my 2 ES changers for under $20 total..the nice thing is that most Sony CD remotes are somewhat interchangeable.

If the PS1 is going to cost the same and sound the same, but with limited functionality, why bother ?

Phil :

you mite try here ...big clearance at Audioadvisor

http://www.audioadvisor.com/products.asp?dept=125

[SEAWOLF97]

After a lot of playing with the PS1, I'm starting to get dropouts...pulled it and went back to the good ole' solid ES player...I was a nice dream while it lasted..

[jan_slagman]

Hello friends,

Lately I bought a used Yamaha CDX 396 CD-player on Dutch Market place for only € 35,00 (US$ 44,25) and compared to my Marantz CD 94/II connected to a Marantz CDA 94 DAC (together US$ 3.446,00 wayback in 1990) I couldn't (much to my surprise) hear any remarkable difference in sound.

With kind regards,

Jan Slagman
The Netherlands.

[BMWCCA]

I was tempted by this Yamaha CD-DVD player, the DVD-S1800 which was on-sale at close to $200 and does SACD, WMA, MP3, and DVD-A. In the end I did nothing, determining that the HK-DV22 really worked very well in the L7 system, and the old Sony 5-disc DVD already in place where the 4345s went wasn't causing any problems I could hear. Maybe next year.

[MikeBrewster77]

Hi B/Feeder,

I have a Denon DVD-1920 that I use for daily listening. Like the Yamaha it's a universal player (CD, DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD, etc.) I actually bought it specifically for listening and not viewing as it was prior to me buying a decent TV (still had a 25" CRT at the time ) and have always been impressed by the audio quality. Hate to say it, but it sounds better, to me at least, than the H/K it replaced ... the second one I should say (since the first one died within 18 months of purchase.)

Now that I have a decent TV I can attest that it's a nice video component as well.

I can't remember exactly what I paid and the receipt is locked up with all of the other audio documentation but I think it was in the ballpark of $500.

[SEAWOLF97]

I read this on audioreview about Sony ES players...do not know how valid ? comments ?

http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/sony/...5_1586crx.aspx

I wish to discuss a little known fact which goes far to eplain the build quality and sound of this player. These "gold" ES players from the late 80's thru 1995 were essentially units designed and built for the home Japanese market. Their sound was voiced for Japanese preferences, i.e., harmony and tone rather than American high-end preferences, i.e., analytical detail often accompanied by tonal sterility. It's no accident that so much old McIntosh and Marantz tube gear has been exported to Japan.
In any case, because of the small volume of sales to the US, Sony simply took their domestic units, changed printing to english, adjusted the AC line voltage, and gave us the "gold" ES players. In direct comparison the the best domestic and English players, these ES players have an unmatched full tonal quality and "naturalness". Just like tube equipment, however, they lack the pin point detail of top end transistor equipment. So if you're an engineer conducting scientific measurements these units are not for you; but, if you're a music lover, who simply wants to experience the full emotional involvement with the music, these units are unsurpassed.
In addition, considering their build quality, at their current used prices, they must rank as one of the great buys of the music equipment world. And no, I'm not getting ready to sell my unit! I simply wish to share my opinion with other music lovers on a budget.

[stephane RAME]

Sony CDP-3100 old cd player or Sony SCD-X501ES modern Sacd/cd player


Stéphane

[MyLittleViking]

I read this on audioreview about Sony ES players...do not know how valid ? comments ?

http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/sony/...5_1586crx.aspx

I wish to discuss a little known fact which goes far to eplain the build quality and sound of this player. These "gold" ES players from the late 80's thru 1995 were essentially units designed and built for the home Japanese market. Their sound was voiced for Japanese preferences, i.e., harmony and tone rather than American high-end preferences, i.e., analytical detail often accompanied by tonal sterility. It's no accident that so much old McIntosh and Marantz tube gear has been exported to Japan.
In any case, because of the small volume of sales to the US, Sony simply took their domestic units, changed printing to english, adjusted the AC line voltage, and gave us the "gold" ES players. In direct comparison the the best domestic and English players, these ES players have an unmatched full tonal quality and "naturalness". Just like tube equipment, however, they lack the pin point detail of top end transistor equipment. So if you're an engineer conducting scientific measurements these units are not for you; but, if you're a music lover, who simply wants to experience the full emotional involvement with the music, these units are unsurpassed.
In addition, considering their build quality, at their current used prices, they must rank as one of the great buys of the music equipment world. And no, I'm not getting ready to sell my unit! I simply wish to share my opinion with other music lovers on a budget.

Def. valid, but with some things that are questionable... They were designed by Japanese Engineers, but were certainly designed for this market. I currently own a Sony CDPC701ES and I can honestly say I have no desire for an upgrade... have heard Sony ES's SACD versions, a number of the Rotels, NAD, Adcom, Denon, Marantz etc. and I always stayed with this unit.

It does everything that it should and nothing that it shouldn't. The Sony CDPC79ES mentioned before was "nearly" as good, just a little quirky at times, the bugs are all worked out with the 701ES. The 801ES is better still... I require a 5-disk changer as I like to have the ability to let it run for hours without the single disk Sony's from this era should be comparable. Good Luck... PS<< I have a NAD 5060 for sale,, it works perfectly, shoot me an offer...

[Ian Mackenzie]

I was tempted by this Yamaha CD-DVD player, the DVD-S1800 which was on-sale at close to $200 and does SACD, WMA, MP3, and DVD-A. In the end I did nothing, determining that the HK-DV22 really worked very well in the L7 system, and the old Sony 5-disc DVD already in place where the 4345s went wasn't causing any problems I could hear. Maybe next year.

Assuming you have made no other decisions I think you are better off to wait.

I really dont see any point in buying old technology in the digital arena as the performance/quality of the most recent stuff is significantly better than the gear of even a few years ago and its getting less expensive.

In the link below there is reference to the new Cambridge Audio dac.

What you could do is buy a current budget universal player and evaluate the improvement of a specialist outboard dac like this one.



http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo...mber=CADACMAGI

[midlife]

Can a computer DVD/CD drive be used as a quality sound source? And if so does its sonic characteristics depend on the quality of the unit and/or should it be used with a DAC between it and the preamp? thanks

[yggdrasil]

A computer DVD/CD player can be used as a source, when you use a DAC between the source and the pre-amp.

Beware that the computer player reacts differently to reading errors than an audio player. The computer player will reread until it gets it right, while the audio player moves on at constant speed.

[SEAWOLF97]

out on a bike ride today and stopped in at Salvation Army....noticed a pristine Sony ES ....CDP-XA1ES calling to me...gathered it up and went looking for a CD & headphones.

did a little testing and it sure had great detail .... couldn't leave it there for the piddlence that they wanted for it , and I did need another single disker so as to pull the big 5 disk carousel.

wrapped it up in 4 large plastic bags and bungied it to the big rack ....got home 10 minutes b4 the rain started....it was a good find. oh yeah, it was a Stereopile class D recommendation.

WOW..it sure drives the Senn HD-580's very well