Quality of music

bopicasso
bopicasso Posts: 878
edited February 2008 in Speakers
I currently am running a onkyo 805 with rti8s and a csi3 and a phillips upconverter dvd player. When I crank it up to -10db watching tv or a movie it sounds awesome! When playing a cd on my phillips dvd player, the highs sound harsh, almost crackling at -10db.
But with a dvd it sounds perfect. Also while listening to music on the xm stations on satelite it sounds fine at -10db. I was wondering if the sound problem is because the phillips isnt a good cd player..
Thanks
Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
Post edited by bopicasso on
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    Possibly, is the phillips doing the D/A conversion (when playing cd's) or the Onkyo? Are you comparing with a well mastered CD?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2008
    you know you need a new player, go ahead, its only money. We can recommend lots of them.

    RT1
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  • GSRBOB
    GSRBOB Posts: 172
    edited February 2008
    I'm sick of using my PS2 for cd listening. I have the same prob, movies sound great and cds sound like crap.
    Onkyo TX-NR801
    Fronts- RTi 10's
    Center- CSi5
    Rear- Coming Soon
    Sub- Velo DPS-10
    Pwr- Monster HTS 3600
    LCD- KDL-40XBR2
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    I've tried it with ALOT of different cds. And it seems to be happening in all of them.
    Im planning on buying a ps3 and using it to store all my cds and play them from there.
    I hope it will have better quality than my phillips player. I guess you get what you pay for, at 64 dollars it does what I paid for it to do. lol
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited February 2008
    bopicasso wrote: »
    Also while listening to music on the xm stations on satelite it sounds fine at -10db. I was wondering if the sound problem is because the phillips isnt a good cd player..

    Could be that the CD's output level is higher than the DVD's or XM receivers. Does the CD sound louder than the XM? AVR's dB level is not a good indicator on how loud you're playing as the gain of the source needs to be figured out as well.
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited February 2008
    This might be a stupid question but are you using store bought CD’s or CD/R’s you have made from MP3’s ?
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    The loudness is pretty close to the same. And I have played store bought and cd/R cds. I guess the true test will be if I hook up another cd player to my reciever.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    There shouldn't be much difference between DVD and CD sound quality. Have you tried running Toslink (or coax dig out) from the phillips to the Onkyo making the phillips simply a cd transport? You probably have a toslink laying around somewhere, give it a shot.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    What is a toslink? lol
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • hljones821
    hljones821 Posts: 35
    edited February 2008
    I had a spare Phillips DVD player that I was going to use in my garage system as a CD player. I made it through 25 minutes before I had to buy a Sony CD changer. The Sony sounded worlds less distorted and harsh.
    2 Channel: Adcom GTP-450,Adcom GFA-555II,Denon DVD-1920,Denon DCD-610,Pro-ject Phono Box E, Music Hall MMF-2.3 SE with Music Hall Spirit, Klipsch RP-250f, Velodyne F-1200 sub

    HT Rig: Mitsubishi WD-73642,HK AVR-2600, Sony BDP-S580, Polk RTi100, Polk R50s,CSi25 Center,SVS 25-31 PCi Sub NSD Upgrade
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
    toslink is optical.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    Ok I do have a toslink. I will try that when I get home.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • bbeacham
    bbeacham Posts: 141
    edited February 2008
    steveinaz wrote: »
    There shouldn't be much difference between DVD and CD sound quality. Have you tried running Toslink (or coax dig out) from the phillips to the Onkyo making the phillips simply a cd transport? You probably have a toslink laying around somewhere, give it a shot.

    One would think so, but there is. I upgraded to a Sony 3100ES DVD player and decided to try a CD. I was absolutely amazed how great CDs now sounded compared to the previous DVD player. No longer were they harsh, but rich and full. In fact this thing works so good with CDs that I have actually started listening to music again on a regular basis.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    Let us know how the toslink option works, you might be surprised....
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    bbeacham wrote: »
    One would think so, but there is. I upgraded to a Sony 3100ES DVD player and decided to try a CD. I was absolutely amazed how great CDs now sounded compared to the previous DVD player. No longer were they harsh, but rich and full. In fact this thing works so good with CDs that I have actually started listening to music again on a regular basis.

    I meant given the same player, playing the 2 formats. There can most definitely be differences in players--agree 100%. That's why I have a dedicated CD transport, seperate from my Blu Ray player.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
    I would also give digital coax a try also. Coax and optical can sometimes sound different.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited February 2008
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Let us know how the toslink option works, you might be surprised....

    And if you are getting better sound from the Toslink (opitcal cable) it might be worth upgrading to a glass toslink (unless you already have one) most these days are plastic.
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited February 2008
    Face wrote: »
    I would also give digital coax a try also. Coax and optical can sometimes sound different.

    Good point. My preferance is actually coax.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2008
    naw, I think he needs a new player. and some new wire.

    RT1
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    Impact Acoustic carries a very nice quartz-glass toslink--a little spendy though at $49 for a .5mtr cable. I owned one--very nice neutral sound. Build is excellent and the collet is actually spring loaded so you don't get any light "bleed" when plugged properly.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    naw, I think he needs a new player. and some new wire.

    RT1

    That would be the better option....
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • bbeacham
    bbeacham Posts: 141
    edited February 2008
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I meant given the same player, playing the 2 formats. There can most definitely be differences in players--agree 100%. That's why I have a dedicated CD transport, seperate from my Blu Ray player.

    Agree. However, I was vague in my earlier post. I meant my previous DVD player sounded fine with movies, but harsh with music.

    I think the problem is that movies have most sound energy in the vocal, and bass range. Music on the other hand uses a wider spectrum of freqs more often than do movies. So, perhaps, that is why movies can sound good, but not CDs. At least that's my theory at this time.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2008
    Ah..gotcha.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    Yep thats my problem, movies sound good, music is harsh. I love listening to music and I dont enjoy listening to cds with my phillips. I will definately have to make a change. Im gonna buy a ps3 soon and see how music sounds using that. If that doesnt get any better im gonna have to buy a dedicated player for music. Im gonna try the toslink tonight. Can I hook up the toslink and leave the hdmi/component rca hooked up for movies? I just dont want to switch cables every time I want to do something different.
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
    My SACD player is hooked up to my DAC via digital coax and to my pre via analog cables. So it's possible, but you have to make sure your player only outputs the redbook layer of the SACD via digital.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    How do you test that?
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited February 2008
    Problem Solved!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I just hooked up my new CPC Line conditioner from B-P-T.com and WOW! The sound quality is alot better! No more crackle at all! And the picture quality is better also!
    Great product!
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • mule
    mule Posts: 282
    edited February 2008
    So I have wondered about this before, obviously there is a difference in performance of speakers and amplifiers but is there really a big difference between cd players?

    Right now I am using a lg 1080p dvd player with a usb port. I know you lose some with the compressed files but I like the convenience and variety of putting 200 songs I know I like on the usb and hitting shuffle.

    I am actually in the market for a new player but I am not sure what to get. I would like something to play either usb or sd. Also thinking of checking out some of the wireless setups. It would be nice to be able to carry my pda in my pocket while it beams music to my system and be able to control volume and play list from anywhere around the house.
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