What to Look for in a CD/DVD player?

[titzlaroo]

What features are a must in a CD/DVD player to get the most out of your sound system? (price budget $500 or less) ....any recommendations?

 

[t3031999]

The features to look at depend on you.
What kind of media do you want it to be able to play?
dvd, cd, dvd-a, sacd, wma, mp3, etc...
What kind of connections do you need?
hdmi, component, s-video, digital coax, 5.1 analog, etc...

You've set a budget at under $500, now make a list of the need to haves and a list of want to haves and shop for those features in your price range.

I looked at many a bunch of players and decided on the onkyo dv-sp502
I haven't had it for more than a couple of days, but i'm impressed with it so far.

 

[jcPanny]

Hd-dvd?

For $500, the new toshiba HD-DVD player is in your budget. If you are willing to wait a few months, the PS3 with BluRay player will probably be in a similar price range. While these new players would offer cutting edge video perfromance, I haven't seen any detailed reviews of their audio capabilities including their analog outputs and bass management. However, I did read that the new HD-DVD player cannot play DVD-Audio and SACD.

If you are using these for CD's keep in mind that the new HD-DVD player takes close to a minute to recognize a disk and start playing. I better option might be a $100-200 DVD player or changer for now and an upgrade next year.

 

[titzlaroo]

Music

Priorities are Music. I would like an HDMI connection if possible. Mainly, I would like to find a decent player to get the most out of my audio system. PS3? Not a chance. My PS2 plays DVDs horribly. I would love some recommendations for a decent CD/DVD player at $500 or less.

 

[Sheep]

Priorities are Music. I would like an HDMI connection if possible. Mainly, I would like to find a decent player to get the most out of my audio system. PS3? Not a chance. My PS2 plays DVDs horribly. I would love some recommendations for a decent CD/DVD player at $500 or less.

I don't think you realize how good the PS3 is. Its better then most high end players on the market. Its a gaming computer with a high end DVD/CD/Blu-ray player in one.

SheepStar

 

[jcPanny]

Audio player

If audio is a priority, then check out the Denon 1920 DVD player and up. The quality D/A's on these universal players make them great for DVD-A and SACD. Keep in mind that for redbook CD the digital coax, optical, or HDMI audio conneciton from any player will sound the same because the receiver is doing the D/A conversion.

 

[titzlaroo]

You know you're right. I haven't seen any info. on the PS3. Maybe I'll check it out. I appreciate both of your inputs, and will check out the PS3 and Denon. I wasn't aware of the D/A information you provided. Thanks.

 

[BMXTRIX]

E3, which is a huge video gaming conference will be in about a week or so and will likely have a long list of additional details on the PS3 including some of the HD capabilities and new audio format capabilities including (?) HD audio and pricing.

Right now, if I were buying today, I likely would look elsewhere. But, the PS3 will likely blow away any video game console as a video/music player that has come before it. Yet, it still may not be the way I would recommend that you should consider.

 

[jcPanny]

HD-DVD update

FYI
I read the recent review of the standard DVD functions of new toshiba HD-DVD player at secrets of home theater. It did OK, but its poor response time and other limitations prevented them from recommending it as a DVD transport. They did not even get into the capabilities and limitations of HD-DVD playback.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=128#ToshibaHD-A1 (Component)

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

What features are a must in a CD/DVD player to get the most out of your sound system? (price budget $500 or less) ....any recommendations?

If your budget is $500, you should purchase the new Toshiba HD-DVD player. Spending $500 on anything "NOT" HD would be silly at this point in time if you watch movies.

my 2 cents..