Where have all the CD players gone?

[hbholland]

We installed a new audio Home Theatre system in Dec 07. We then made the fatal mistake of placing my multiplatter CD player on top of the HD satelite box. Long story short it warped the platter and ruined the player. When I went to buy a new player, low and behold they don't make them anymore... I am told the best option is to buy an Ipod with a docking station. I was prepared to go there, but now I'm reading that the signal quality isn't any good because of the translation from the Ipod analog port to digital. So I have a brand new stereo and all I can listen to is my HD TV stereo channels... what is the best option? Do I try and hook up an old PC with a large hard drive just to play music? If so how, do I hook it up? Or do I buy an Ipod with a docking station? I just want to listen to my music... and I don't want to spend another $1000 to do it. Oh, also, I have a Denon AVR688 receiver. I want to hook up a secondary zone receiver to patch in my outdoor speakers, any suggestions on a basic secondary receiver that will do the job? I have an old Sony receiver (15+ years old) and when I hook it up I get sound but very bad quality...

Much thanks audio folks from a frustrated listener...

 

[MDS]

Stand-alone CD players are practically extinct now since DVD players can also play CDs. A few companies, like Onkyo, still make multi-disc DVD players so that is an option if you want another multi-disc player.

If the iPod dock you use is the type where the iPod sits in a cradle then there is no analog to digital conversion because the data on the iPod is already digital and is transferred over USB to the dock and then from the dock to the receiver.

 

[jostenmeat]

heh, my only music source is cdp. no computer, never owned vinyl, 8 track, or ever dl'd mp3, etc. anyways, here is a list courtesy of OBCT a couple of months ago at AVS. FWIW, Ive never been a fan of disc changers because of reliability issues, but of course I completely understand their appeal to many consumers.

5 Changer SACD w/out video playback
Sony SCD-C2000ES
MSRP: $400
5 Changer SACD w/ video playback
Denon DVM-2845CI
MSRP: $500
Marantz VC6001 --OR-- certified refurb
MSRP: $700
Sony DVP-NC80V
MSRP: $120
Yamaha DVD-C961
MSRP: $450
6 Changer SACD w/ video playback
Onkyo DV-CP802 --OR-- HERE
MSRP: $500
Other multi-disc Changer SACD
Sony DVP-CX995V {400 Disc}
MSRP: $400
Sony DVP-CX777ES {400 Disc}
MSRP: $800
5 Changer SACD + A/V Reciever Combo
Sony AVD-C70ES
MSRP: $1000?

not on the list above are some nice Rotel units.
http://www.rotel.com/NA/products/ProductDetails.htm?Id=25&Tab=1&Pic=1

 

[hbholland]

Thanks very much for the feedback.

So, what about the new denon wireless ASD-3W ipod dock? any word on it? This looks like it will fit the bill, and apparently you don't even need an ipod for it.

hbholland

 

[Joe Schmoe]

apparently you don't even need an ipod for it.

What good is an ipod dock without an ipod?

 

[jcPanny]

Replacement for CD transport

I still have a 60 CD changer but I haven't touched it since setting up an iPod classic with the music library in lossless format. Here are a couple ideas for replacing your CD player.

1. Use your DVD player as a single disc player. Some players will play a CD or DVD of MP3 files so you could have a mix disc for a party.
2. Ipod w/ dock.
3. Apple TV. Stores music like an iPod but will also stream music, video, and pictures from your computer. Also has a very nice GUI and a remote.
4. Squeeze Box 3 or similar device to stream audio from the PC, internet radio, etc.

 

[hbholland]

What good is an ipod dock without an ipod?

Apparently with the denon ipod dock attached, you can then use your computer to stream audio if you wish, or download from the denon satelite radio network without having to have an ipod attached. If that is the case then I can just use my laptop to store and play all of my music... problem solved... It looks as though the dock is more of a router than anything else, although the reviews are mixed about the screen controls for the dock... a bunch say it is slow....

ca.denon.com/boundless/asd_3w.html

 

[snappy_snoopy]

Apparently with the denon ipod dock attached, you can then use your computer to stream audio if you wish, or download from the denon satelite radio network without having to have an ipod attached. If that is the case then I can just use my laptop to store and play all of my music... problem solved... It looks as though the dock is more of a router than anything else, although the reviews are mixed about the screen controls for the dock... a bunch say it is slow....

ca.denon.com/boundless/asd_3w.html

I just use my dvd player, it works very well and plays my mp3s which i compile onto dvd's anyway for very large play lists. And if you have a optical connection between your dvd player and AVR then you wont have much signal loss either

 

[3db]

Stand-alone CD players are practically extinct now since DVD players can also play CDs. A few companies, like Onkyo, still make multi-disc DVD players so that is an option if you want another multi-disc player.

If the iPod dock you use is the type where the iPod sits in a cradle then there is no analog to digital conversion because the data on the iPod is already digital and is transferred over USB to the dock and then from the dock to the receiver.

http://nadelectronics.com/products/cd-players
http://www.yamaha.ca/av/stereocomp/CDC697.jsp
http://ca.denon.com/ProductDetails/DVDPlayersAndChangers.asp (dvd, not dedicated CD players)

I looked for pioneer, sony, and panasonic and like Denon are dvd players. It would appear that NAD and Yamaha plus the esoteric brands have dedicated CD players.