My CD changer just went south for all time and It's not a high end unit and I had it fixed once before so I need to get a new one or a quality used one. What is a good unit that I should look at?
My CD changer just went south for all time and It's not a high end unit and I had it fixed once before so I need to get a new one or a quality used one. What is a good unit that I should look at?
I bought a TEAC CD-P650-B nearly two-years ago when I was looking for an elegant way to connect an iPod to one of my systems. It's a well-made single-disc player with a good DAC (PCM1791A Burr Brown) that has quite a bit of versatility in addition to a USB direct iPod connectivity. TEAC sells direct on Amazon and when I got mine it was around $120, shipped. It's gotten a bit more popular recently and the price has crept up a bit, but it's still a good buy. B&H still shows it for $119 shipping included and no tax outside NY. Most reviews are excellent. The bad ones simply show that not everyone has even a clue as to how audio works!
I consider it a fantastic USB iPod and MP3 player with a CD player as an added bonus. I should probably buy one for each of my systems.
". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers
Good stuff, I will look at that one. I would rather have a multiple cd player but will settle for a single if its better.
Again a single disc player, but the Onkyo C-7030 I purchased this year is designed for high quality audio and delivers for me. I'll put it up against the expensive units. Since Gibson purchased Onkyo the quality has gone up.
Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears
If you would like an elevated level of performance at a moderate cost, I'd recommend going with virtually any CD player or changer equipped with a S/PIDF output and a Byrston BDA-1. I've seen them lately on the used market for $600. This DAC with any decent disc spinner will sound pretty darned close to the best possible in digital playback options.
Widget
Hi Widget, I've been thinking of getting a new cd player along with a DAC, never used one before but I've been curious about them for a while now. I pulled the trigger on Clark's Onkyo and now I would like to know some more about the DAC.Originally Posted by Mr. Widget
I know there was a thread either dedicated to or veered off onto the topic of DACs but cant seem to find it now.
I was looking at a picture of the Bryston's rear panel and was wondering if you could clarify some things. On the back panel SPIDF 1 & 2 look like regular RCA (digital Coax) interconnects, and S/PDIF 3 & 4 look kind of like traditional female Coaxial cable interconnects (threaded?), hard to tell from the angles of the pictures I've seen since they're always head on shots. My Pre-Amp does not have any SPDIF input so I guess I would default to using the XLR analog outputs.
The Single Ended Analog outputs I would imagine are regular RCAs ?. If a Pre-Amp does not have an SPDIF input it would be impossible to use the Output from the Bryston, kinda silly questions but I am not familiar with this stuff & want to make sure I understand it correctly.
Upon further inspection I realize this unit does not have analog inputs does it, is that common for D/ACs?
So when you guys talk about using Coax cable do you mean an RCA terminated Coaxial audio interconnect (as per link below)? Being behind the times as it were to me when I hear Coaxial cable I think of the traditional TV cable with threaded ends.
http://www.amazon.com/C2G-Cables-291...l+cable+3+feet
Just Play Music.
Ducatista, how's the low end on that model? I've seen it around and for the money, it gets praise but I've not been able to hear it yet. I'm happy with the definition, timing, and coherence of my Marantz CD6005, especially on the prog rock I listen to which can be complex, but sometimes I yearn for just a tad more richness in the lows, like if it had +1dB from the mid-100's Hz and lower.
Widget - I'd take your recommendation on the Bryston but these days, I have to do things on the "even cheaper than a great deal" basis.
I haven't seen any of those bryston's for less than 1K
I only gave the native player a brief trial. I use my CD players (and other digital sources) coax out to an outboard DAC. The Onkyo sounded great to me before that, not surprising as it was designed for high end playback, but it was a limited audition. Too limited to laser in on just 100dB down. I think I paid $150-160 for it.
It is probably irrelevant to your question that it sounds faultless as a digital source. As for your +1dB quest, I have turned to parametric EQ for such desires. The analog devices have shelving as well as full parametric capability. They can do almost anything. A boost for 100Hz down would be a simple shelving solution. One of the nice things about analog parametric, there is no footprint on regions not chosen if the master output is not boosted or cut.
Widget, my DAC has COAX and USB as well as optical input, and I sincerely believe the COAX is better than optical, as currently practiced.
Clark
Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears
Probably not a bad idea considering the price (very close to the Onkyo), as much as I dislike my ipod sometimes I cant negate the convenience factor so the USB port is quite a nice feature. Does that unit have a S/PDIF or any Digital output Phil, I did not see it in the specs. The CD to USB Recording feature looks really interesting (almost like a tape deck built in), have you used it & if so what's your take on it?
Just Play Music.
Yes, it has optical digital output (Toslink), but I'm using it in a system without an outboard DAC.Probably not a bad idea considering the price (very close to the Onkyo), as much as I dislike my ipod sometimes I cant negate the convenience factor so the USB port is quite a nice feature. Does that unit have a S/PDIF or any Digital output Phil, I did not see it in the specs. The CD to USB Recording feature looks really interesting (almost like a tape deck built in
I've also not used it as a recorder to an SD card as I've not found a need for that feature so far.
The TEAC continues to work well for me with the iPod and as a CD deck in a system connected to any of a dozen different speakers for comparison. I'd still recommend it.
". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers
I've been using a emotiva erc2 for a few years now. They have a newer model out and I can't speak for that one. I know there's some on this forum who don't like there products. But all there products I've had have been excellent. The erc2 is may with excellent engineering practices in audio design.all circuits are completely compartmentalized. The player is a bit more then the other 2 suggested but it it does have a reputation as a bit of a giant slayer.
Nick
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