Why buy a CD Player?

[buzzsaw]

Is there any good reason why I should not buy an inexpensive DVD player to play CD'S? I'm going to be testing several sets of old speakers with an older receiver and this would seem to be the less expensive option.

 

[Nick250]

There will probably be some disagreement on this but in my limited experience (I have 3 DVD players and 1 CD player at the moment) it will not make a difference. Some may argue that the DAC in the CD player will be better for CDs. I think you will be fine either way.

 

[Johnd]

You also have far more option and quality differences in dvd players vs. cd players just because of the sheer numbers produced. You can find throw away dvd players for $20.00-$30.00, or fairly good ones for under $100.00...so why not?

 

[BostonMark]

Interesting question and my experience

I have been playing my CDs mostly on my Pioneer Elite 47A DVD player. (Its a universal player that plays SACDs and DVD audios as well). I use digital out for CDs. I recently decided to audition a Rotel RCD 975, a fine CD player by the numerous reviews I have read, with an outstanding set of Digital to Audio Converters. I brought home a used one from a local hi fi dealer and plugged it in using a good quality connect (yeah Monster Cables, but it was either that or Radio shacks own brand, and even though overpriced, they do make a good interconnect). Well I put my Yamaha Receiver on Direct Source no effects, so the sounds on my Pioneer DVD player and Rotel CD player went straight through the Yamaha and into a Rotel 200 watt per channel power amp and into a pair of Polk Monitor 70s. The Pioneer used a digital connection, the Rotel I used the Analog connects, since it has outstanding DACS. I put in a copy of Donald Fagen's latest CD, Morph the Cat into each player. I had two because after I bought the CD, I found out he had also released the album in a 2 pack with CD and DVD audio. Well I listened, had my girlfriend switch back and forth between the CD player and the DVD player. Guess what? I could discern no difference whatsoever. I really couldn't, and I tried. They both sounded beautiful, full bass, great vocals, nice saxaphone, good imaging. However, I couldnt tell the difference between the Rotel and the Pioneer. I give big kudos to Rotel for having analog outs that sound the same as the digital out on the Pioneer, but bottom line, I couldn't hear the difference. For reference, I can certainly hear the difference between SACD and Cd, CD and Mp3, using good connects vs. the first pair of cheap RCA cables I could find in my closet. (hence the trip to radio shack for the monster connects). I could NOT note any difference between a state of the art Rotel and the Pioneer DVD player. Perhaps when one goes above the $750 mark (the original retail price of the Rotel) into more esoteric makes the difference is clear, but for what it's worth, that is my experience. Hope it helps!

 

[agarwalro]

Brace yourself. If you use the digital signal, all CD players are equal. That is the great thing about digital. Either you get everyting or nothing at all. As long as your processor/ receiver can differenciate between the '1's and '0's in the bitstream, the CD player has nothing to do with sound quality. In this case a $100.00 or $500.00 or $5000.00 CD player will make no difference to sound quality.

If you are using the analog connections, that is a different story all together. Now all the Burr-Brown DAC, THD, SNR etc. become important since the CD player is doing all the decoding and the processor/ receiver is only doing the switching and amplification.

 

[buzzsaw]

Reply to why buy a CD player

I purchased a Sony DVP-NS55P DVD player to play CD's. It is hooked up to a JVC 4VR-5414 4 channel receiver. On the front channels, I have a set of large original walnut Advents and on the rear channels a set of Mission m73i speakers. It is absolutely awesome! I've played Nelson Riddle (the Riddle Touch) and now have on the Cream DVD video of their Royal Albert Hall concert of last year. I didn't even hook up the DVD player with the cables I wanted; I'm using the stock cables. This system sounds almost as good as the Ampzilla-Magneplanar system I heard many years ago. No distortion and I can only play it only about 1/4 volume because it just blows you away! I can't wait to get my other CD's going to see how it all sounds. It also sounds really good with the XM satellite radio I have hooked to it. I may pull out or look to purchase a new turntable and play my old vinyl.
Anyway, no noticeable problems using this DVD player with this older sound system.
Thanks to all,
John

 

[markw]

Well, a few months ago I might have answered differently, but...

...I found that my Toshiba DVD/VHS Hi-Fi player didn't sound as good as a dedicated 5 CD changer, at least for the analog outputs. I run the analog audio through an analog input on a Marantz 2270.

I had been using the combo player for CD's in the man-cave/office/gym and some songs just had a "grainy" sound. Not on FM, just on CD. So, I brought down my NAD 2300 and plugged it into the trusty 2270 , put on a CD that was sure to elicit that grainy sound (Emmy Lou Harris, Profile) and, lo and behold, no grain.

so, I put the NAD back in the other system and took a gamble on a refurb Marantz CC4300 for $130 and I'm a happy camper.

I do think it has to do with the DAC.

 

[buzzsaw]

CD vs. DVD player

Well, the possibilty exists about swapping out the Sony DVD player for an older analog model to see if the sound is different. If anyone has any suggestions about what to look for, please let me know. I look on ebay quite a bit, so I'll see what's available there, if anyone has any ideas. I'll try some Emmy Lou Harris and see if she sounds "grainy." I've got two more sets of speakers coming in, Altec Lansing 887A Capri's, and a set of older Kenwood's which are 5-way and have 16" woofers. I can swap out cables and speaker wire to see if that makes any difference. If you also have suggestions on what CD's to play to test for "graininess," please let me know. I'll be trying out a lot of different music over the next few days; but what's nice is I can really control any harshness with the equalizer that's built in to the JVC receiver.
Thanks,
John

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Buzzsaw!!!

HEH.... I like that name. I just had a flashback from "The Running Man".


Amber: [after Richards cut Buzzsaw in half with a chain saw] What happened to Buzzsaw?
Ben Richards: He had to split.


BWahahahahahahah.....

 

[markw]

... but what's nice is I can really control any harshness with the equalizer that's built in to the JVC receiver.

Don't bet on that. EQ's can correct some minor FR deviations, not distortion.

 

[buzzsaw]

The Buzzsaw and "Distortion"

I can assure you I am the "Buzzsaw" and I am in one piece!
As to distortion, that would be inherent in the medium used and the component itself. I can assure you this equalizer has a significant effect on what you hear and how you hear it. This especially works in the 10-15,000 Hz range in which much of the harsh, gravel like noise occurs. You can work the 40, 250, 1000, 5000, and 15,000 Hz areas to really shape what you hear.
I fully realize this is not a sweet tube system, which would be much warmer and probably of better construction component-wise, but it does sound very good.
Criticism understood and accepted.

The "Buzzsaw"