Single-drawer better than changer?

[Joe Schmoe]

I have read a couple of "off-the-cuff" remarks that single-drawer players (CD or DVD) perform better than changers. Is there any truth in this? If so, why?

 

[BMXTRIX]

A player is as good as a player is - don't believe for a second otherwise. A great player with 10,000,000 disc capacity is a great player. A cruddy 1 disc player is a cruddy player.

Thinking much beyond that is for people who have better ears than us mortals have.

 

[mike c]

i would think SQ would be in the DAC's, and other internals rather than how a CD is fed into the player ...

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thinking much beyond that is for people who have better ears than us mortals have.

Yes, and they, those beyond mortals, don't answer no matter how much you try

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have read a couple of "off-the-cuff" remarks that single-drawer players (CD or DVD) perform better than changers. Is there any truth in this? If so, why?

Some years ago The $ensible Sound did a DBT using an $80 RCA carousel against players costing $1000s(they would be single trays) and the panel could not differentiate them.

 

[fmw]

The single tray units are more reliable and easier to use since they are simpler. However, they sound the same as changers.

 

[cfrizz]

Precisely. A lot less to go wrong with a single as opposed to a changer.

The single tray units are more reliable and easier to use since they are simpler. However, they sound the same as changers.

 

[j_garcia]

Yep. I have had issus with each of my drawer changers. If I have a choice, I will stick with single disc.

 

[Haoleb]

When asked what to look for in a player I always recommend a single disc unit vs a changer unless the person specifically wants a multi disc player. Like others have said they are simpler and usually more reliable. Unless of course you get a top load like my Rega Planet 2000, which eliminates the drawer assembly alltogether

 

[dorokusai]

Some years ago The $ensible Sound did a DBT using an $80 RCA carousel against players costing $1000s(they would be single trays) and the panel could not differentiate them.

Do you have a link to that?

Mark

 

[mtrycrafts]

Do you have a link to that?

Mark

Here you go:

CD Player Comparison, The Sensible Sound, # 75, Jun/Jul 1999.

CD Player Comparison, The Sensible Sound, # 74, Apr/May 1999

Not sure if these are on line. By the way, they didn't identify the expensive CD players.

 

[MDS]

I'm inclined to agree that the quality of the player is in the choice of components rather than single disc vs multi-disc but I also agree that a single disc player has fewer parts that can go bad and in general will be more reliable.

I had an Onkyo 6 disc CD changer and it worked reliably for many, many years; in fact it is still in service at my sister/bro-in-law's house. However, multi-disc changers slowly get out of alignment and disc 1 is sometimes not recognized now. The benefit of a multi-disc changer is when you want to load a bunch of discs for 'party mode' but there are so many alternatives now with streaming audio devices that that feature is not so important anymore and I would choose a good quality single disc player.

The only advantage I see to multi-disc DVD changers is if you have kids. Anyone with kids knows they will watch the same movie over and over and it's great to be able to load multiple movies at once and easily switch between them for that kind of situation. For adults, I don't see the benefit at all.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I had an Onkyo 6 disc CD changer and it worked reliably for many, many years; in fact it is still in service at my sister/bro-in-law's house. However, multi-disc changers slowly get out of alignment and disc 1 is sometimes not recognized now. The benefit of a multi-disc changer is when you want to load a bunch of discs for 'party mode' but there are so many alternatives now with streaming audio devices that that feature is not so important anymore and I would choose a good quality single disc player.

The only advantage I see to multi-disc DVD changers is if you have kids. Anyone with kids knows they will watch the same movie over and over and it's great to be able to load multiple movies at once and easily switch between them for that kind of situation. For adults, I don't see the benefit at all.

At least that player still has 5 good slots

I prefer the cartridge type CD players as then it can be used as a storage container, more CDs stored in less space when it is limited.
Mine still work great too, but then, it is a Denon

 

[Fastnbulbous]

I just can't go without a carousel. Sometimes I need the music not to stop. There must be a bias against them, because the only higher-end brand I know of that makes 'em is the Rotel RCC 1055. They must think audiophiles either never get laid, or never last beyond one disc...

 

[Adam]

They must think audiophiles either never get laid, or never last beyond one disc...

I'm spending my money on audio gear...you do the math.

 

[MDS]

They must think audiophiles either never get laid, or never last beyond one disc...

I've heard many justifications for why multi-disc changers are better than single disc, but that one takes the cake.

If you had a Squeexbox or similar device you could play 2 months or more worth of music uninterrupted. Having owned changers, I still just don't get it. I use my single disc DVD player for one purpose - playing one single movie. For music, I'd much rather have my entire collection at my fingertips. I just don't see (any longer) the need to load multiple discs.

 

[mtrycrafts]

If you had a Squeexbox or similar device you could play 2 months or more worth of music uninterrupted. .

What is that? Is it lossless CD hard drive? Or a kind of MP3 coding?
Maybe I need to get into the 21st century, after all

 

[MDS]

http://www.slimdevices.com

It can play any format and is connected to your home network via either hard-wired Ethernet or wireless and to your receiver. There are many similar devices but IMO this is the best of them.

 

[Haoleb]

What is that? Is it lossless CD hard drive? Or a kind of MP3 coding?
Maybe I need to get into the 21st century, after all

WHAT! Mtry, the legend, has never heard of a squeezebox? Surely you must be living under the proverbial audiophile rock!

 

[mtrycrafts]

WHAT! Mtry, the legend, has never heard of a squeezebox? Surely you must be living under the proverbial audiophile rock!

Didn't have a need so why clutter the storage capacity

By the way, I have heard of cell phones but don't need them or want them