cd players why spend more than 50.00?

soundfreak1

I plan on using a cd player as a transport only coming out digitally to a free standing dac. having said that: other than specific features such as remote control multi disc sacd hdcd different formats, virtually everything I have read states that there are basically maybe 3 or 4 different manufacturers. That make up the largest percentage of lazar pick up and swing arms and that most good quality manufacturer seem to use very simular units maybe from the same manufacturer which leads me to my question???? is there any realistic good reason more than 5o
to 100 dollars on the used cd player assuming that it has the digital output of course and the primary convenience features I want. I am speaking primarily sound quality output I have been doing some a/b comparison with several cds I have indifferent cd players connected through the same deck in the same stereo system in the same room some newer some vintage some really cheap and it doesn't seem to be any real difference between um as far as sound quality goes regardless of price paid so my point is why spend several 100 dollars for a used cd player or 100.oo's more for new 1? and I'm not taking into account brand loyalty, ego , or it looks so cool.

tonyb

When using a digital out, you basically are using the cdp as just a transport. With that, transports vary in quality. You won't see much difference in quality for 50-100 bucks if thats what you mean. Also just because you have a handfull of manufacturers making lasers, transports, they all have a variety of quality at a given price point. Much like AVR'S, a handfull of brands control the market, but they all have different lines with different quality and of coarse different price tags. A good transport will reduce jitter better than a 100 buck cdp will, wether or not you can hear that difference is going to be subjective and wether or not the coin is worth it will also be subjective. Sorry as to not be more help to you, but like all things, quality in, quality out is usually the mantra, one which I personally would subscribe to.

cnh

+1, The only reason I use a reasonably expensive CDP below is that I "rely" on its internal build quality, transformers, DAC architecture, tube outputs, etc. I "do not" ever use the Toslink out but feed the RCAs out to the RCA in on the Jolida tube amp below. Hence, better quality = better sound.

If you're NOT going to use the DACs, etc. in the unit. Then the quality of your external DAC unit will be the most important determinant in what you hear (assuming you have decent amplification and speakers).

You are right about manufacturers, the Jolida below has a Philips transport (not a "cheap" one). Remember just because there are only a few makers of optical drives and transports that does not mean that each manufacturer only produces one VERSION of their transport which will go in a 100 dollar CDP and also a 3000 dollar unit?

cnh

soundfreak1

Yep I think you're right damn I justt cant avoid that rabbit hole . I just love this hobby!LMAO.

Face

I wouldn't go crazy on a transport, I haven't found a direct correlation between a transport's price and sound quality.

tonyb

Face wrote: »

I wouldn't go crazy on a transport, I haven't found a direct correlation between a transport's price and sound quality.

Personally, I wouldn't either. I think money wise you'd get a better lift in SQ if you put that money elsewhere in your system. Not doggin' seperate transports because I've heard some very good expensive ones. Thing is, they are also almost always connected to expensive associate gear so you never fully get the impact the transport alone makes. Asking someone in a high end shop to take out the 3 g transport and stick in a cheap Sony cdp and they'll ask you to kindly hit the door.

headrott

I have done a comparison betweena couple Denon CD/DVD players used as a transport and a recently bought Theta Jade CD transport. The Denon CD/DVD players didn't stand up to the Theta Jade (dedicated transport) in comparison. All of these players are more expensive than $50.00 to $100.00 however. The review can be found here if you haven't seen it yet. Despite some people claiming CD/DVD players and transports all sounding the same, don't allow yourself to be drawn into that. Find out for yourself and compare! Ask a dealer to set up some players and transports (in the price range you see fit) and listen for yourself. Or even better, listen in your own system. The biggest difference I found in sound quality was going from the CD/DVD players used as transports to a dedicated transport. It was not subtle. Hope this helps you out.

Greg

VR3

If I were to rebuild my 2 channel system and it was going to be CD based, I would start with the best, most expensive CDP I could afford... plain and simple

Crap in, crap out! It all starts at the source!

thsmith

I had a PS3 optical to PS Audio DAC DLIII and Rotel 1072 CDP digital coax to same DAC and the Rotel killed and ate the PS3 for CD playback.

F1nut

VR3 wrote: »

If I were to rebuild my 2 channel system and it was going to be CD based, I would start with the best, most expensive CDP I could afford... plain and simple

Crap in, crap out! It all starts at the source!

Nail, head, hammer!

cstmar01

Source does IMO make a difference. If your are playing around with 50 to 100 buck players I doubt you will hear much difference. Also will depend on the whole system as well.

I had a Pionner DVD, CDP, DVD-A, SACD player that was good. I got the Esoteric and heard an improvement. I kept Esoteric as to me it made a big enough difference in SQ that I really enjoyed it. Still got it, won't part with it.

steveinaz

While you could opt for a less expensive CD transport, I wouldn't buy a cheap one. You still want a good/stable power supply, a good transport mechanism/damping; the list goes on and on.

Here's a good example:

Cambridge 650C and 550C; why pay $200 more for the 650C, when it's only advantage over the 550C is dual DAC's? You're running an external DAC anyway, so that will be by-passed. The power supplies/transport mech are the same on both. Just one of many examples where money can be saved.

Face

VR3 wrote: »

If I were to rebuild my 2 channel system and it was going to be CD based, I would start with the best, most expensive CDP I could afford... plain and simple

Crap in, crap out! It all starts at the source!

He's talking about using a CDP as a transport only...

audiocr381ve

There's nothing more annoying than a noisy CDP which you might find in the $50-$100 category. Buy something with a nice build and make sure it's QUIET!

Face

I've had $1,000 CDP's that were noisy, good luck with that.

audiocr381ve

Face wrote: »

I've had $1,000 CDP's that were noisy, good luck with that.

I was speaking as a guy who has only owned CDP's under $300. I thought once you got up in that price range it got better? I'm sitting next to my NAD C541i CDP and it's louder than I'd like it to be for sure.

tonyb

Louder doesn't necessarily equate to better. 300 is still entry level for a cdp, new anyway. Used is another story but might get you mid level. I think we have a thread here not too long ago with a shoot out of cdp's, maybe worth a look see if that interests you.