Need help/ Upgrade

PolkFan1

My current 2 channel setup : Rti8's. Harman Kardon HK3480 2channel receiver, and a sony DVP-NS575P cd/dvd player combo.

I was thinking about upgrading the source

Here are the specs of the sony player

http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/sony-dvp-ns575p-s/4507-6463_7-30796989.html

If I were to upgrade to lets say a dedicated 5disc cd player like an onkyo or a 150 dollar sony would I be getting a day and night difference or at least some significant noticeability in difference?

dkg999

Probably not.

tcrossma

Generally speaking I'm guessing you'll have to spend a bit more money to get into a player that's going to make an appreciable difference.

tom t

no, you would just be wasting your money. if you want a big difference,spend some money.

Ern Dog

My first source was a $150 Onyo 6-CD carosel. By process of elimination, I found out that this source colored my whole rig with a clinical flavor and sounded "tinnie" for lack of a better word. I noticed that when I upgrade to a quality Red book player that my system sounded more balanced, fuller and more involving. I chose a NAD C-542 for $400new, but by going used you can do better. For example here is a used Music Hall CD25.2 for $350 on the Gon: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1213927251

dcmeigs

+1 on Ern Dogs sugestion.

Another idea is to buy yourself a good quality DAC. IMHO, the reason you don't like the sound of your DVD player is 90% because it has a very low quality DAC board and 10% because of transport issues.

Once you have a good DAC, you can use toslink or digital RCA cables to send signals from lower quality equipment, like mass market CD and DVD players, thus bypassing their cheap DAC boards. This would include laptops, internet radio and squeezeboxes (assuming you rip wave files). The key here is added versatility so you will want a DAC with four or five inputs.

Keep in mind that your sources will then need optical or digital outputs so the DVD player may still be on the way out the door. You'll have to check that out.

I think down the road a few years, we will see more and more interesting digital media deliverd to us in ways we can only imagine, and I just can't see paying for a good DAC board in each piece of equipment when we can have just one good DAC.

Hope this complicates thing for you.

Early B.

Forget about a DAC. For the same money, you can get a decent CD player. Budget about $500 for a used one.

If the budget for a stand-alone CD player is too high, then spend about $100 or less and get an HD-DVD player or an Oppo. Either option will probably sound better than your Sony.

Gadabout

Agree with the above posts about not hearing much of a difference. Save up a bit more and get a *good* player.

If you have the coinage now....

Andy is selling a Marantz 8260 for a real Decent price in the Flea Market. I love mine.

pietro944

dcmeigs wrote: »

+1 on Ern Dogs sugestion.

Another idea is to buy yourself a good quality DAC. IMHO, the reason you don't like the sound of your DVD player is 90% because it has a very low quality DAC board and 10% because of transport issues.

Once you have a good DAC, you can use toslink or digital RCA cables to send signals from lower quality equipment, like mass market CD and DVD players, thus bypassing their cheap DAC boards. This would include laptops, internet radio and squeezeboxes (assuming you rip wave files). The key here is added versatility so you will want a DAC with four or five inputs.

Keep in mind that your sources will then need optical or digital outputs so the DVD player may still be on the way out the door. You'll have to check that out.

I think down the road a few years, we will see more and more interesting digital media deliverd to us in ways we can only imagine, and I just can't see paying for a good DAC board in each piece of equipment when we can have just one good DAC.

Hope this complicates thing for you.

spot on,my friend....it's all about the DAC's

I bought a used Toshiba HD-XA1 on Ebay for $92.00 +
shipping,just for this reason.
I didn't buy it for HDDVD,even though it's a fine player.

I bought as a CD Player!!!!
It has FOUR Burr-Brown DSP's for the Audio.
I run it 2 channel audio into a Pioneer Elite 74TXVI-S

It's the best CD Player I've ever Heard....and I've had
Rega,Rotel and other HI-End in my time.

I also use a Zhalou D2.5 DAC and Headphone Amp for
PC audio and Portable CD Player Listening.

Along with my AKG 701 Headphones......SWEET!

It's all about the DAC.......p.s this is what it cost me:

HDXA1-$120.00 incl shipping,
Zhalou D2.5-$269.00(with upgraded Dacs and Discrete
Headphone Amp).
AKG 701 Headphones-$269.00(new on Ebay)

$700 total dollars for a superb system.
(Also got the Polk Monitor 70's for $306 from Polk Direct
on Ebay)

dcmeigs

Welcome to the forum Pietro.