Network/CD player?

[WineOfTheVeins]

Good morning everyone.

What I'm looking to add to my setup is a high quality CD player that also can stream music from Tidal, Spotify etc. I know Marantz has the MCR but it has speaker outs and all that, I don't want all that. Just a device that can do cds and people can plug in their phone or stream their music from internet services when we have get togethers. Is there such a device? Am I better off going separates, and if so what is a good hub that connects to my preamp to stream?

If I go separates I know id probably get the Marantz CD6006. I'm just hoping I can tackle both needs in one device.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Yamaha makes (or at least has made) some so-called network CD players. A blu-ray player that streams would work just as well.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[KenM10759]

I use a Bluesound Vault 2. It doesn't play CD's, it just rips them, stores them, and then plays the files. And it streams from a number of services, podcasts, and internet radio stations. I control it with my tablet, phone, or even my desktop (though that's in another room.) It'll also stream music direct from my phone or other device via Bluetooth or wireless if I want.

 

[WineOfTheVeins]

Turns out you can stream Tidal, Spotify etc from someone's phone to the laptop, which is then hooked in through the DAC. Worked flawlessly. I was concerned of latency and lag issues, there were none.

Guess I am just looking for a top notch CD player now.

 

[KenM10759]

Marantz PM-14S1

 

[sterling shoote]

Good morning everyone.

What I'm looking to add to my setup is a high quality CD player that also can stream music from Tidal, Spotify etc. I know Marantz has the MCR but it has speaker outs and all that, I don't want all that. Just a device that can do cds and people can plug in their phone or stream their music from internet services when we have get togethers. Is there such a device? Am I better off going separates, and if so what is a good hub that connects to my preamp to stream?

If I go separates I know id probably get the Marantz CD6006. I'm just hoping I can tackle both needs in one device.

Here's another route, get the high quality CD Player, without consideration of anything but core functions. Buy an Airport Express Base Station and hook up to your modem/router and RCA or S/PDIF from Airport Express to your pre amp, integrated amp, pre/pro, or receiver. Then you will have AirPlay function to send your iTunes Library, or Apple Music wirelessly to your system from your computer, or iPhone/iPad. It works great. All the recorded music in the world instantly at your fingertips to listen to from your HI-FI. Another means is to buy a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD external sound card and connect it between your computer and amp. This allows any media player on your computer to get music to your HI-FI from wired connection. It will convert usb to optical S/PDIF at up to 24/96, or it will operate as a usb DAC.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Is a top quality CD player going to function any better tha a nice BD player that will already have all the styreaming built right in?

 

[KenM10759]

Is a top quality CD player going to function any better tha a nice BD player that will already have all the styreaming built right in?

They can, IMO. How much better depends upon you and your ears. Something like a Marantz SA14-S1 can be so smooth but it's definitely a critical ear that notices the complete lack of any jitter. An Oppo can be very nearly as good and (depending upon model) add streaming.

Myself, I couldn't afford such a player and wanted streaming of music. My choice was the Bluesound Vault 2 because it reads the CD up to 3 times, comparing it's read to the original file size before it stores. This way it plays the exact same "read" (file) of a given disk the same way every time I want to hear it.

 

[lovinthehd]

They can, IMO. How much better depends upon you and your ears. Something like a Marantz SA14-S1 can be so smooth but it's definitely a critical ear that notices the complete lack of any jitter. An Oppo can be very nearly as good and (depending upon model) add streaming.

Myself, I couldn't afford such a player and wanted streaming of music. My choice was the Bluesound Vault 2 because it reads the CD up to 3 times, comparing it's read to the original file size before it stores. This way it plays the exact same "read" (file) of a given disk the same way every time I want to hear it.

So you need a critical ear to hear jitter, eh?

 

[KenM10759]

Maybe, because I've never heard it on my old Sony 5-disk changer and it's cheap.

 

[lovinthehd]

Good discussion on jitter audibility here.

 

[KenM10759]

Good discussion on jitter audibility here.

That discussion illustrates my point pretty good. Yes, I am being somewhat flippant in suggesting a Marantz SA14-S1, though if you have the money it sure is pretty and perhaps has some features you want or just like.

I have poor hearing, apparently, because I've never heard the difference in various CD players or Blu-ray players. What I hear is how fast it can access a disk and start playing, that's about it. If someone else can hear it, along with cables and amps, good for them. Go spend the money and be happy.

The electronics I chose were picked primarily for ease of operation, convenience, and affordability for my budget. Down that list is 'what it looks like', but it does matter to me. I like the way my total system operates. There will be tweaks, but I'm happy now and am not focused on things like jitter. Neither do I ever listen at levels loud enough to be able to find the distortion thresholds of my amp/receiver.

My dealer is good, though I know where to draw the line with them. When they start talking about rhythm, pace and timing of a cable or the warmth of a DAC or amp, I'm outta there.

 

[slipperybidness]

That discussion illustrates my point pretty good. Yes, I am being somewhat flippant in suggesting a Marantz SA14-S1, though if you have the money it sure is pretty and perhaps has some features you want or just like.

I have poor hearing, apparently, because I've never heard the difference in various CD players or Blu-ray players. What I hear is how fast it can access a disk and start playing, that's about it. If someone else can hear it, along with cables and amps, good for them. Go spend the money and be happy.

The electronics I chose were picked primarily for ease of operation, convenience, and affordability for my budget. Down that list is 'what it looks like', but it does matter to me. I like the way my total system operates. There will be tweaks, but I'm happy now and am not focused on things like jitter. Neither do I ever listen at levels loud enough to be able to find the distortion thresholds of my amp/receiver.

My dealer is good, though I know where to draw the line with them. When they start talking about rhythm, pace and timing of a cable or the warmth of a DAC or amp, I'm outta there.

Yeah, I've heard plenty of MECHANICAL whirs and noises coming from a CD player, but I can't say that I've ever "heard jitter".

In fact, I'm certain that all this "asynchronous USB" stuff is purely marketing!

 

[KenM10759]

That, the mechanical noises, is certainly true.

I used to just turn it up louder to drown that out. Now that it's all ripped onto my Bluesound Vault 2, the mechanical noise floor is something I can't hear at all. My room's ambient noise floor far exceeds that of a well-engineered and installed hard drive.

 

[highfigh]

Good morning everyone.

What I'm looking to add to my setup is a high quality CD player that also can stream music from Tidal, Spotify etc. I know Marantz has the MCR but it has speaker outs and all that, I don't want all that. Just a device that can do cds and people can plug in their phone or stream their music from internet services when we have get togethers. Is there such a device? Am I better off going separates, and if so what is a good hub that connects to my preamp to stream?

Why do you want a CD player when ALL DVD and BluRay players will play them? If you're set on a CD player, get a CD player and leave the streaming to something else- it will limit your choices.

Sonos is probably the most common streaming box that "does it all", but it's limited in some ways. If you only want to use something like this as a simple source, it's fine, but they have been making changes to their app that people don't like. If you'll use a phone, tablet or computer to act as the source and stream to something, you have options. Spotify is one source that doesn't always allow the streaming box to act as the portal- you may need to run it in your hand-held and stream it to the device.

By 'hub', do you mean 'the device that sends audio to the preamp', or a network connection?

 

[Montucky]

Personally, I've liked using a combo of the Yamaha CD-S2100 paired with the Yamaha WXC-50 for streaming purposes. Killer combination that has served me quite well.

 

[highfigh]

I like the extra inputs on the Yamaha and HEOS streaming devices- it helps when a preamp or AVR only has a couple of digital inputs and the analog ins are full.