Replacement for NAD L53

[ski2xblack]

I was hoping to pick your brains on a possible replacement. The L53 has decided that it consistently dislikes just about any disc, as opposed to merely disliking discs on occasion. It's gotten so frustrating that it's time for replacement.

Goals: one chassis; sufficient power (the L53 was sufficient, barely); simplicity of use; budget-nothing outrageous.

Speakers are Ninjafied Onyx XL-S Encore, room is rather big. It will be used exclusively for audio.

Options:

NAD Viso Two, $599
Marantz M-CR603 $570
TEAC CR-H500NT $599

I'm leery of the NAD, as online comments indicate it too has problems with the transport.
I'm unsure if the Marantz or TEAC are powerful enough, but they each would fit the bill, with networking to boot.

Comments? Other suggestions?

 

[Pyrrho]

If you are "handy," you should try cleaning the lens of your player before you decide to replace it, as that might fix it for nearly no cost. To do this right involves taking the cover off to get at the lens, which obviously should only be done with the thing unplugged.

As for a replacement, if you have room for two components, I strongly recommend using a separate disc player from a receiver, as typically one part fails long before the other, as in your current situation. It is generally much cheaper to replace just one than to replace the whole thing, so in the long run, it tends to save money to have the disc player separate from the receiver.

 

[anamorphic96]

Do you need a tuner ? If not get a stereo receiver or integrated amp and get an inexpensive DVd player. When the player craps out replace it and keep the amp. You will save a ton of money.

All in one units are never really a good idea. Once one of the major functions go you end trashing the whole thing. The above scenario prevents that.

I would also try pyrrho's suggestion and see if you can clean the optics.

 

[Adam]

If you are "handy," you should try cleaning the lens of your player before you decide to replace it, as that might fix it for nearly no cost.

Excellent suggestion! The easiest way to try at first is to blow some compressed air (or even use a hairdryer...preferably on low heat) into the disc area with the tray open. If that doesn't work, you could then move onto taking the cover off. You can also buy lens cleaning discs, but I've never used one and can't speak to how well they work.

 

[ski2xblack]

Thanks for the quick feedback, guys, much appreciated.

Couple things...sources are primarily CD, with a tuner second in priority. I also personally would go with separates, but this is not my system, but that of my technophobic parents, so simplicity is key. Also, they have one shelf available which accomodates one full size component. So separates would have to be half width to fit.

Separates would have to be small, e.g. Parasound Z-series, which would work very well, but they don't have a cd player. The Z-amp looks like a good option for power. That and a level controllable source would do the trick.

Anyone know of a half-space CD player with remote controllable variable output? Or CD/preamp combo device?

 

[ski2xblack]

Excellent suggestion! The easiest way to try at first is to blow some compressed air (or even use a hairdryer...preferably on low heat) into the disc area with the tray open. If that doesn't work, you could then move onto taking the cover off. You can also buy lens cleaning discs, but I've never used one and can't speak to how well they work.

Good suggestions. It seems to be some sort of software/driver issue. It's out of warranty, and actually was sent back while still in warranty for the same thing. It still hiccups and refuses to play.

I will try to work on it myself, but this thing is not my old Sony ES. Tons of **** crammed in that chassis.

 

[bikemig]

Thanks for the quick feedback, guys, much appreciated.

Couple things...sources are primarily CD, with a tuner second in priority. I also personally would go with separates, but this is not my system, but that of my technophobic parents, so simplicity is key. Also, they have one shelf available which accomodates one full size component. So separates would have to be half width to fit.

Separates would have to be small, e.g. Parasound Z-series, which would work very well, but they don't have a cd player. The Z-amp looks like a good option for power. That and a level controllable source would do the trick.

Anyone know of a half-space CD player with remote controllable variable output? Or CD/preamp combo device?

Cambridge makes a compact line of separates that might work: the Sonata CD player and receiver. Plus there is a network music player that is part of the Sonata line-up. Bummer about the NAD.

Edit: another possibility would be to burn your parent's music onto a CD, sync it with an ipod and use the ipod as the main source. If you go that route, you will probably want to bypass the internal dacs on the ipod (they're not bad but there are better) and go with something like this, http://www.pure.com/us/products/product.asp?Product=VL-61429&Category=, which runs $100, or this, http://www.highresolutiontechnologies.com.au/index.php/istreamer, for $200. In fact, you could use either one of these and (largely) ignore the CD player on your NAD. The ipod is not much of a jump up in terms of complexity than a CD player but I understand what it means to work with technophobic parents!

By the way, Audio Advisor has decent prices on the Cambridge sonata; you can pick up the receiver, the cambridge ipod dock and cambridge bookshelf speakers for $500, http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CAKAR30 SILBLK.

 

[ski2xblack]

Thanks, Bike. I'll have to check on the Denon and CA minis, for sources/control at least. I don't think their tiny receivers have the proper juice, as they're all fairly optimistically rated, when compared to the L53 or Viso Two, or the Parasound Z-amp. Also, the Encore's are sweet looking and sounding, they're not going anywhere.

The L53 has digi inputs, but when I mention a Squeezebox type solution to them, their eyes start to glaze over...I should probably just do it and then show them how convienient such an approach would be. No idevices, but internet and computer with wifi network already in place at their house.

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks for the quick feedback, guys, much appreciated.

Couple things...sources are primarily CD, with a tuner second in priority. I also personally would go with separates, but this is not my system, but that of my technophobic parents, so simplicity is key. Also, they have one shelf available which accomodates one full size component. So separates would have to be half width to fit.

Separates would have to be small, e.g. Parasound Z-series, which would work very well, but they don't have a cd player. The Z-amp looks like a good option for power. That and a level controllable source would do the trick.

Anyone know of a half-space CD player with remote controllable variable output? Or CD/preamp combo device?

Teac makes some tiny components, though their latest are not cheap:

http://www.amazon.com/Teac-Reference-PD-H600-CD-MP3-player/dp/B002ROTY68/

http://www.amazon.com/Teac-AG-H600NT-Internet-Radio-Receiver/dp/B002ROTFW6/

They seem to be highly regarded though. Given the prices, I would check out bikemig's suggestion of Cambridge Sonata gear.

If you want to go very cheap, if you have room next to the receiver/player that they have, you can buy a low end small DVD player to put next to it for playing discs.

 

[bikemig]

I totally agree about the SqueezeBox; it is dead simple to use and once you set it up, they'll have no problem operating it. Btw, you don't need to rely on the NAD digital inputs to use the SB as it has a very good built in DAC. I use the analog out with my NAD receiver and the SQ is excellent.

 

[ski2xblack]

I totally agree, Pyrrho. The top shelf Teac Reference series were the first I suggested to them. What they saw was the price, and an intimidating stack of gear. (They're perfect Bose targets. I feel obliged to help them avoid being the next Bose robbery victim.) Plus, the Teacs are too wide for the available shelf space when side by side. Unfortunately, their CD receiver is compromised in the amp department. The speakers really deserve 50 genuine watts at the very least.

I don't have a picture to post, which would help explain what I'm dealing with logistically. Small small shelf. One power outlet available. Of course such a picture won't explain the other aesthetic and ergonomic restrictions, such as "I don't want to see any wires" and "it better be easy to use."

Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions!

 

[ski2xblack]

I totally agree about the SqueezeBox; it is dead simple to use and once you set it up, they'll have no problem operating it. Btw, you don't need to rely on the NAD digital inputs to use the SB as it has a very good built in DAC. I use the analog out with my NAD receiver and the SQ is excellent.

I think this is what I'll end up doing. It's relatively cheap. And the amp in the NAD is pretty solid, compared to the items I've checked out. The NAD re-digitizes analog inputs, so I would use the digi input anyway, just to avoid the extra AD/DA conversion.

The 'rent's biggest beef is that they were embarassed when the NAD did it's malfunction thing when they were entertaining. I can understand, but good grief. Well, the squeezbox won't skip, or misread, or any of that.

I may have to force it upon them, but in the end they'll see the light.

 

[anamorphic96]

Sounds like a good way to salvage the NAD and extends it's life.

Once they get used to the new controls and realize ALL their music is in the palm of their hand it will win them over.

 

[Pyrrho]

I totally agree, Pyrrho. The top shelf Teac Reference series were the first I suggested to them. What they saw was the price, and an intimidating stack of gear. (They're perfect Bose targets. I feel obliged to help them avoid being the next Bose robbery victim.) Plus, the Teacs are too wide for the available shelf space when side by side. Unfortunately, their CD receiver is compromised in the amp department. The speakers really deserve 50 genuine watts at the very least.

I don't have a picture to post, which would help explain what I'm dealing with logistically. Small small shelf. One power outlet available. Of course such a picture won't explain the other aesthetic and ergonomic restrictions, such as "I don't want to see any wires" and "it better be easy to use."

Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions!

Another thing to consider, if you need more power, is whether or not there is some hidden away place to put a power amp, and use a receiver with preamp outputs on the small shelf. You can use something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Energy-Saving-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B000P1QJXQ/

to automatically turn the power amp on and off, if you don't have 12v trigger connections on things. I use several of them in various systems (both audio and computer), and they work very well, though you may have to set the sensitivity control, depending on how much power the "control" device uses. If you have a place hidden away where you can put a power amp, you can have all the power you want this way.