new cd player?

pmckeealaska

OK.....I have pretty much all the gear I originally wanted complete my music only system and am planning on completing my HT setup this coming winter. The following is my setup:

NAD T763 reciever (being used as a preamp for now until HT comes along)

Rotel RB 1080 stereo power amplifier

Sony DVP NC685V DVD/CD/SACD player

All components wired with monster cables and plugged into Monster HTS 1000 MK II power center.

I have been told on this forum that my DVD/CD player is the weak point in my music setup. Many have said that DVD players make crappy CD players. My question is this: is this true and if so, what would the good people on this forum suggest I get to replace it? I would like to keep it for watching DVD movies since it does have progessive scan and really does result in great picture quality. I want a player that can play not only CD's but also SACD's and any other derivation of CD's (CD-R's etc.). My budget limit is $500. Any suggestions??

John K.

No, PM, it isn't true. This is yet another example of something that had some basis in fact years ago but is meaningless now. CDs require a laser operating at a wavelength near 780 nm for best performance; DVDs require a laser around 650 nm. For years now CD/DVD players have had dual lasers operating at the optimum wavelength for each type of disc. The 1s and 0s come out exactly the same and there's no performance advantage to a separate CD player.

steveinaz

<<My budget limit is $500. Any suggestions??>>

YES...the Cambridge Audio 640C Azur. Send me a Christmas card this year after you listen to it.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=CAMB640C&product_name=Azur%20640C%20CD%20Player

You WILL NOT match this player at this price. Available in Silver or Black. Buy it. If you don't like this player, I will personally send you Miss Alaska 2003s' home phone number.*









*offer subject to proir approval. Offer not valid in Alaska, Hawaii or the Domincan Republic. Batteries not included. This offer is niether sponsored by or endorsed by Polk Audio, Inc. Your mileage may vary.

dorokusai

I think that the Sony model you use is a nice unit. Who said it wasn't? How is it weak?

It may not have received stellar reviews, but it's a solid performer.

The Cambridge is a really nice choice, but doesn't fit his requirements for SACD.

steveinaz

Man, get that NEC away from me...just kidding bro, don't take it personal...:D

Wes wanted to try his NEC on my system, but I'm so frickin' anal I have everything tie-wrapped and secured in the back---didn't want to undo my cable management. Not to mention its just generally a real pain in the butt to trade anything out. My house is no good for demo'ing.

AsSiMiLaTeD

take a look through the Toshiba 3960 thread...

That unit's being called a 'giant killer' by bunches of people...

For $70, it's worth a shot. I don't know if/how it will compare to the higher end players...but everyone seems to love it...

Danny Tse

pm,

If you can hold off the puchase a while, Sony is set to unleash an audio-only SACD/CD 5-disc changer for about $150.00.

I personally think DVD-based SACD/CD players can be excellent players.

Terrax

I would go after the Toshiba 3960, and as a matter of fact, I am.... today, hehe. At 70 bones, and with the reviews and statements of wonderment that has been laid on it......

F1nut

Once again I have to disagree with John K.'s assessment that there is no difference between a dedicated SACD/CD player or a dedicated CD player and a all in one unit. It has nothing to do with the lasers these days, but everything to do with the DAC's, the signal path and the overall bulid quality of the unit.

I can't think of a dedicated SACD/CD player that falls into your price range, but it may be possible to have your unit modded within your price range with outstanding results.

steveinaz

F1-I agree. When a company buys license for all those technologies in these all-in-one machines, it drives the price up. So you know something is being sacrificed in those players to hold the price down. I'm a minimalist, I don't like having extra circuitry in a unit that I don't use, or even features for that matter--but to each his own.

This is not all that different from the Receiver vs Seperates argument. I think everyone will agree that receivers, though convenient and relatively inexpensive, are a compromise. Look at the amplifier section on any receiver...You've got the same thing going on with these all-in-one players.

There is no free ride unfortunately.

madmax

I'm still stuck on the Toshiba SD-3960. Even in stock form it has awesome 2 channel CD performance! $70 and if you don't like it after a week take it back. I'm betting you wouldn't though...
madmax

Terrax

I picked up the SD-3960 yesterday, and right out of the box, it sounds fantastic. Don't let the build of it fool ya, and I would think it can only get better with a few simple mods and time. Although, even without modding, it sounds awesome.

Danny Tse

I don't know if there's much difference between the SD-3950 and the SD-3960, but here's a thread on mods to the SD-3950 (with photos)....

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70377

Early B.

Steve said:
"YES...the Cambridge Audio 640C Azur. Send me a Christmas card this year after you listen to it.

You WILL NOT match this player at this price. Available in Silver or Black. Buy it."


I agree completely. I have this CD player and it's awesome. I also had the Cambrdige Audio 540D DVD player hooked up at the same time so I could do some comparisons of music. The CD player and the DVD player sounded virtually identical, except the CD player reproduced signifcantly better bass. It brought out the best in my Hsu sub.

If you want a great sounding CD player, you can't beat the 640C.

Willow

looks like a sweet cd player its on sale here in my city 599 CAD

SniperREX

It seems to be a great CD player on paper. Does it play HDCD?

Wow 24bit/192Khz DAC .

Right now I'm using a Sony DVD player: DVP-NC600.

I'm still not sure on what I should buy. I was thinking about a new NAD C-541i for $299, or a used C-541 for $149.

$499 for a CD player seems too much for my wallet.

Is the Azur 640C an overkill for my rig?

Is the 540C a better deal?

hamzahsh

Keep in mind when you use DIGITAL OUT
COAXIAL or OPTICAL you're using your A/V receiver or Pre/Pro DACs. When you use Analog Out you're using CD/DVD player DACs.

1. PCM > DAC

---

using
DIGITAL OUT

2. PCM > DAC > ADC > DAC----using ANALOG OUT

Option 1 is better in my opinion because of fewer processing stages.

F1nut

Originally posted by pmckeealaska
I want a player that can play not only CD's but also SACD's and any other derivation of CD's (CD-R's etc.). My budget limit is $500. Any suggestions??

Guys, he wants a SACD/CD player not just a CD player!!!

dorokusai

Yea, I mentioned that tidbit two days ago....good eyes Polk forum.

tonyv1

This should satisfy your requirements.
Philips DVDSA963A . This is a DVD/CD/SACD player that also does 24/192 upsampling on sale at Acoustic Sounds for $449.

Terrax

Originally posted by dorokusai
Yea, I mentioned that tidbit two days ago....good eyes Polk forum.

You did indeed, and I totally overlooked his want of SACD or I would not have suggested the SD-3960.

---

> points to self..... Silly Rabbit.

T-ax

tonyv1

I just got a newletter from Music Direct, the Philips DVD963SA is $349 from them.

madmax

Originally posted by Terrax
You did indeed, and I totally overlooked his want of SACD or I would not have suggested the SD-3960.

---

> points to self..... Silly Rabbit.

T-ax

Personally at this point, after hearing standard CD's through my Theta/AudioNote system or even the 3960 I have to wonder if I'm still interested in an SACD system for under $5k. At least I can tell you my $700 Pioneer DV-47Ai doesn't do it for me. Probably a better quality SACD than that would but I'm still wondering... I think F1 has a better one which performs well but I don't know which one it is.
madmax

Terrax

Edited.

steveinaz

Originally posted by SniperREX
It seems to be a great CD player on paper. Does it play HDCD?

Wow 24bit/192Khz DAC .

Right now I'm using a Sony DVD player: DVP-NC600.

I'm still not sure on what I should buy. I was thinking about a new NAD C-541i for $299, or a used C-541 for $149.

$499 for a CD player seems too much for my wallet.

Is the Azur 640C an overkill for my rig?

Is the 540C a better deal?

Not to derail here, but the Cambridge does not decode HDCD, though HDCD's sound wonderful through it. Cambridge Audio CD players have proven themselves time and time again with fantastic ratings and near "giant killer" status.

The 640c is well worth the extra expense over the 540c. It would mate wondefully with your system...

In the "FWIW" column; In my comparisons with the NAD C-541 ( a player I really wanted to like), I found the Cambridge D500SE (replaced by the 640c) to be the slightest bit more articulate, and bass better controlled. Keep in mind this is purely a subjective observation. I chose the D500SE. I now have a CEC CD-3300.

SniperREX

Thx for your advice, though the Philips 963A is very tempting. SACD, HDCD and $150 less than the 640c Azur.

Is the Wolfson 24bit/192Khz a good DAC?
What's the brand of the Philips DAC?

tonyv1

This is the lowset price I've found on the
Philips DVD963A for $255 shipped. My best friend just ordered one.

steveinaz

Originally posted by SniperREX
Is the Wolfson 24bit/192Khz a good DAC?
What's the brand of the Philips DAC?

Wolfson DAC's are highly respected and usually only found on much pricier players. I don't know what is in the Philips.

SniperREX

Originally posted by tonyv1
This is the lowset price I've found on the
Philips DVD963A for $255 shipped. My best friend just ordered one.

Thank you!

John K.

Rex, you asked about the DACs in the two players. Again, while this also was a useful subject for discussion years ago, DACs are now a mature technology, available to manufacturers in OEM quantities from several makers for as little as $1 apiece for 24/192 DAC chips of excellent quality. The Cambridge uses the Wolfson 8740 and the Philips the Analog Devices 1955 . While slight measurable differences still exist(e.g. note the 120dB SNR for the 1955 and 117dB for the 8740), they comfortably exceed the requirements of the material on any of the discs which will be played and far exceed the capabilities of the ears of the listeners.

Player designers don't sabotage their own products by specifying DACs which would provide less than flawless performance(if they could even be found these days), since they have excellent low cost choices available from several suppliers, such as Analog Devices, Cirrus Logic, Texas Instruments(Burr-Brown), Wolfson and others. In short, buy a player with the features you want at the best price you can get and enjoy the music, but don't worry about the DACs.

SniperREX

Thank you very much for the info.

I'll get my 963SA in 2-3 days