CD Player Recommendations

[bryanalban]

Hi,

I've bought my receiver (Denon 2808CI) and my speakers (Monitor Audio Silver), so now I'm planning on upgrading my CD player. I have an old Sony CD player that was decent when I got it 6 years ago.

This is my first time buying a higher-end setup so I'm kind new to this.

I listen to more music than movies/HD cable (60%-40%), and I listen mostly to acoustic (jazz, classical, etc) music.

Do you guys use a separate CD player, or do you play CD's on your DVD player?

What CD players would you recommend?

What is the best way to connect the CD player, with the RCA connections or with the digital out?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Adam]

I use my DVD player, and I use the digital audio connection. Whether you want to use the digital or analog audio outputs will depend on which component, the player or the receiver, has the better digital-to-audio converters (DACs). The digital audio connection is easier, seeing as how it's just one cable.

 

[Seth=L]

I use my DVD player, and I use the digital audio connection. Whether you want to use the digital or analog audio outputs will depend on which component, the player or the receiver, has the better digital-to-audio converters (DACs). The digital audio connection is easier, seeing as how it's just one cable.

So simply, if the digital connection is being used, it's almost irrelevant which CD player, or DVD player gets used (as long as it's reliable and can read all your discs).

 

[EJ1]

I'd recommend the Oppo DV-980H. Great DVD and CD player (also plays SACDs and DVDAs).

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi,

I've bought my receiver (Denon 2808CI) and my speakers (Monitor Audio Silver), so now I'm planning on upgrading my CD player. I have an old Sony CD player that was decent when I got it 6 years ago.

This is my first time buying a higher-end setup so I'm kind new to this.

I listen to more music than movies/HD cable (60%-40%), and I listen mostly to acoustic (jazz, classical, etc) music.

Do you guys use a separate CD player, or do you play CD's on your DVD player?

What CD players would you recommend?

What is the best way to connect the CD player, with the RCA connections or with the digital out?

Thanks for the help.

Is there anything wrong with that 6 year old CD player or just think it should be upgraded with new speakers and receivers?
If nothing wrong, most likely it has a digital out on it, then you can just use that wit the receiver and you are set

 

[bryanalban]

Is there anything wrong with that 6 year old CD player or just think it should be upgraded with new speakers and receivers?
If nothing wrong, most likely it has a digital out on it, then you can just use that wit the receiver and you are set

No there's nothing really wrong with the old CD player, I just thought I would upgrade to get a better sound.

So you guys are saying that I won't get a better sound if I buy a NAD 515 or NAD 542 or a Cambridge 540?

Now a practical question, if I use the digital input on the back of my 2808CI for the CD player, can I set it so that when I hit CD on the remote it will use that digital input instead of the CD RCA inputs?

 

[cvcgolf]

Don't connect the RCA cables. Only use the digital coaxial. If you do hook up both your receiver should automatically choose the digital connection before the RCA connection.

 

[Seth=L]

No there's nothing really wrong with the old CD player, I just thought I would upgrade to get a better sound.

So you guys are saying that I won't get a better sound if I buy a NAD 515 or NAD 542 or a Cambridge 540?

Now a practical question, if I use the digital input on the back of my 2808CI for the CD player, can I set it so that when I hit CD on the remote it will use that digital input instead of the CD RCA inputs?

Yes, you will need to refer to the manual for your receiver.

Does the Sony have a digital output of sorts? If it does, and you plan to use the digital connection it will make no difference if you connect that or a Krell CD player, it will sound the same. Since that receiver is very new the DACs in it are very up to date and capablel. You would be hard pressed to hear any difference (if one exists) between it's DACs and one of the CD players you mentioned. Hell, my Magnavox CDB-650 sounds hardly different, if at all, from the Pioneer Elite PD-65 I once had.

 

[bryanalban]

Yes, you will need to refer to the manual for your receiver.

Does the Sony have a digital output of sorts? If it does, and you plan to use the digital connection it will make no difference if you connect that or a Krell CD player, it will sound the same.

I just pulled the CD player out, and wouldn't you know, it doesn't have a digital output, only the RCA.

With that being the case, what do you think I should look for? Or should I just use the old CD player with the RCA inputs?

 

[Seth=L]

I just pulled the CD player out, and wouldn't you know, it doesn't have a digital output, only the RCA.

With that being the case, what do you think I should look for? Or should I just use the old CD player with the RCA inputs?

Or just use a DVD player or Blu-ray player. As expensive as some stand alone CD players can be you might as well get a Blu-ray player.

 

[majorloser]

Emotiva has come out with a brand new reference CD player. They brought it to the Audioholics SOTU show this past October.

The ERC-1.

Here's a link to their forume for more info:
http://emotivalounge.proboards54.com/index.cgi?board=media&action=display&thread=2110

Go about half way down this page:
http://www.emotiva.com/news.shtm

You can pre-order here:
http://www.emotiva.com/preorder.html

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Not to subtract from all the great advice and recommendations given in this thread, just wanted to give you another option... here is what I use.


It's nice because you never have to handle any discs, it does it all for you... so you get no dirt, dust or fingerprints on your collection. You can plug in a keyboard and catalog all your titles and everything via the OSD too.

Good luck in your search.

 

[WmAx]

I'm going to make an alternate suggestion; one that really will result in improved sound quality in many cases.

Buy any good mechanical quality CD player - they almost all sound exactly the same in double blinded comparisons when non-defective. Try to budget the purchase and spend as little as possible. Go to http://www.accessories4less.com and look for factory refurbed cd players. They are a great company with excellent customer service. They specialize pretty much in medium to upper quality audio electronics that is factory refurbished.

Now, take your saving and add a bit more - now get a high quality phonograph. I kid you not. Many albums have a superior 'master' on the vinyl version of the album as compared to the CD version. I can recommend to you the best products for a given price range if you are interested.

-Chris

 

[bryanalban]

I'm going
Now, take your saving and add a bit more - now get a high quality phonograph. I kid you not. Many albums have a superior 'master' on the vinyl version of the album as compared to the CD version. I can recommend to you the best products for a given price range if you are interested.

-Chris

Thanks Chris,

I already have a phonograph, and quite a large collection of jazz and classical albums, many of which have never be released on CD.

 

[Brick Top]

Oooooorrrr......

Get a decent sound card like M-Audio for your comp, download Monkeymedia or Foobar2K, burn as many cd's as you like, and connect the digital out from the M-audio to your receiver. Bit perfect playback from your hd, and you won't have to handle a cd again after it's burned.

CD players will be obsolete in the near future I predict....as computer audio gets better and easier to use. I don't plan on ever buying another cd player.

Cheers,
BT

 

[allargon]

Oooooorrrr......

Get a decent sound card like M-Audio for your comp, download Monkeymedia or Foobar2K, burn as many cd's as you like, and connect the digital out from the M-audio to your receiver. Bit perfect playback from your hd, and you won't have to handle a cd again after it's burned.

CD players will be obsolete in the near future I predict....as computer audio gets better and easier to use. I don't plan on ever buying another cd player.

Cheers,
BT

Honestly, you don't even need that good of a sound card if you are going spdif. Digital is the ultimate equalizer. It's DAC's that vary.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I just pulled the CD player out, and wouldn't you know, it doesn't have a digital output, only the RCA.

With that being the case, what do you think I should look for? Or should I just use the old CD player with the RCA inputs?

I seriously doubt you will get enough of a difference even with the RCA connection to worry about upgrading to another CD player alone. If you have a DVD player now for those rare movies use it and you have no worries, or if you plan on upgrading to Bluray, use it for CD. Audio is way over hyped about audible this or that. But it you think about it, if it wasn't, who would buy those expensive players?

 

[Seth=L]

Oooooorrrr......

Get a decent sound card like M-Audio for your comp, download Monkeymedia or Foobar2K, burn as many cd's as you like, and connect the digital out from the M-audio to your receiver. Bit perfect playback from your hd, and you won't have to handle a cd again after it's burned.

CD players will be obsolete in the near future I predict....as computer audio gets better and easier to use. I don't plan on ever buying another cd player.

Cheers,
BT

"oh yeah....Tommy...Brick Top loves Tommy."

 

[Cruise Missile]

I have a Denon 3930ci, I use digital out (Denon link), as far as CD's go there's no difference between this player and any other. However, I get multi-channel SACD over the digital, that was my only reason for this player choice.

I totally agree, go reliable but cheap, unless you need/want an additional feature. Oppo makes some fine examples, especially for the price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'd recommend the Oppo DV-980H. Great DVD and CD player (also plays SACDs and DVDAs).

I second the Oppo DV-980H.

The more I look at the DV-980H, the more impressed I get.

A SACD/DVD-A player that can actually send DSD-Direct SACD & DVD-A PCM via a SINGLE HDMI (v1.2) cable for only $170!

I had a $3,800 Denon DVD-5910CI, and it didn't even have HDMI v1.2 for DSD-Direct SACD!

The only other SACD/DVD-A player that I know of w/ DSD-SACD via HDMI v1.2 is the $350 Pioneer Elite DV-58AV.