Is it worth it for a top line CD player?
Discussion
I try not to listen to stuff on my iPod now (when going through the main system).
I don't have a dedicated CD player and play CDs through the BluRay player - Samsung BD1500 - I'll probably hang onto for another 6 months or so.
There's a huge increase in sound quality from the iPod to BD - how much step up would there be with a decent CD player and if so, what would you recommend (nothing too obscure, I'm in Dubai).
It would run through an Onkyo S875 AV unit and DefTech Mythos speakers.
Thanks in advance.
I don't have a dedicated CD player and play CDs through the BluRay player - Samsung BD1500 - I'll probably hang onto for another 6 months or so.
There's a huge increase in sound quality from the iPod to BD - how much step up would there be with a decent CD player and if so, what would you recommend (nothing too obscure, I'm in Dubai).
It would run through an Onkyo S875 AV unit and DefTech Mythos speakers.
Thanks in advance.
M400 NBL said:
I don't have a top of the range CD player, but I have read a lot of magazines that suggest that if you do get one, you'll need top of the range everything else to get the full benefit.
Top end nterconnects, speakers and speakers cable can get very expensive.
That makes sense (unfortunately).Top end nterconnects, speakers and speakers cable can get very expensive.
I listen through a Linn Classic (12 years old now) and a pair of biwired B&W's on Atacama stands
CD's sound fantastic an I pod played through the same system average.
Moral of the story save the ipod for what it's intended (music on the move) and get a decent system fo the house.
You may invest a bit more but quality kit will always be quality kit. Spend a bit of time setting up with decent cables etc.
Chard "still loving an elderly HiFi" F
CD's sound fantastic an I pod played through the same system average.
Moral of the story save the ipod for what it's intended (music on the move) and get a decent system fo the house.
You may invest a bit more but quality kit will always be quality kit. Spend a bit of time setting up with decent cables etc.
Chard "still loving an elderly HiFi" F
Graham E said:
IMO, a decent cd player will sound much better than ipod. I'm personally not convinced by the "losslessness" of apple lossless - CD's on a decent system sound much better, ven when compared to a decent dac stage from PC..
Can you explain to me why a decent optical out to a decent DAC playing a FLAC file or other lossless format wont sound as good as a CD player?Will,
No, my beard isn't long enough. When I back to backed PC vs CD back when i was deciding wether to keep a large mass of plastic discs or use the media centre collecting dust upstairs, the lack of quality from Itunes / windows media / realplayer (even on decent settings) was a large contributing factor. In both setups, I had an MF X-24k in the middle, which I reckon is a reasonable bit of kit.
No, my beard isn't long enough. When I back to backed PC vs CD back when i was deciding wether to keep a large mass of plastic discs or use the media centre collecting dust upstairs, the lack of quality from Itunes / windows media / realplayer (even on decent settings) was a large contributing factor. In both setups, I had an MF X-24k in the middle, which I reckon is a reasonable bit of kit.
Graham E said:
Will,
No, my beard isn't long enough. When I back to backed PC vs CD back when i was deciding wether to keep a large mass of plastic discs or use the media centre collecting dust upstairs, the lack of quality from Itunes / windows media / realplayer (even on decent settings) was a large contributing factor. In both setups, I had an MF X-24k in the middle, which I reckon is a reasonable bit of kit.
Using FLAC and apple Lossless via a digital?No, my beard isn't long enough. When I back to backed PC vs CD back when i was deciding wether to keep a large mass of plastic discs or use the media centre collecting dust upstairs, the lack of quality from Itunes / windows media / realplayer (even on decent settings) was a large contributing factor. In both setups, I had an MF X-24k in the middle, which I reckon is a reasonable bit of kit.
Only reason I ask is because last time we had someone claim such a thing it turned out he was in the industry working for a CD player manufacturor that didn't sell a stand alone DAC.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... - page 24 and onwards for a fairly interesting read on why a CD player to DAC and PC to DAC should be no different.
On my main system, I have a high(-ish - the hifi loons would think it cheap crap) end CD transport (Cyrus CD Xt), a Squeezebox Duet and a Cyrus DAC XP (a dual DAC pre-amp). It is almost impossible to distinguish between a CD and an Aplle lossless rip of the same CD played through the Squeezebox.
A few years ago, I couldn't tell the difference between a high end Meridian Transport and a Squeezebox into a Meridian DAC/Processor, so I sold the transport, never looked back.
There can be a big difference between external DACs and their tolerance of SP/DIF Digital feeds, many DACs now reclock the data, some using a FIFO buffer as well, I have found that thes egive the best results.
I wouldn't go back to a high end CD spinner
davidy
There can be a big difference between external DACs and their tolerance of SP/DIF Digital feeds, many DACs now reclock the data, some using a FIFO buffer as well, I have found that thes egive the best results.
I wouldn't go back to a high end CD spinner
davidy
Zod said:
On my main system, I have a high(-ish - the hifi loons would think it cheap crap) end CD transport (Cyrus CD Xt), a Squeezebox Duet and a Cyrus DAC XP (a dual DAC pre-amp). It is almost impossible to distinguish between a CD and an Aplle lossless rip of the same CD played through the Squeezebox.
Almost impossible or impossible? I don't see how 2 digital sources running the the same converter will sound different.There can be several reasons for differences:-
1) A CD player applies real-time error correction, due to the start of the CD this could be different from he error correction applied by the ripping software
2) If the DAC does not reclock, then jitter could be an issue, different rates from different sources
3) If either of the SP/DIF Digital cables is poorly terminated, or the cable type is not within specification
4) Some SP/DIF outputs use isolating transformers and this makes them less immune to spurious noise on the SP/DIF which can effect both the signal and jitter
5) Transformer or Swtch mode power supply noise within the source component
Not all digital sources are the same, they should be, but the world isn't perfect.
1) A CD player applies real-time error correction, due to the start of the CD this could be different from he error correction applied by the ripping software
2) If the DAC does not reclock, then jitter could be an issue, different rates from different sources
3) If either of the SP/DIF Digital cables is poorly terminated, or the cable type is not within specification
4) Some SP/DIF outputs use isolating transformers and this makes them less immune to spurious noise on the SP/DIF which can effect both the signal and jitter
5) Transformer or Swtch mode power supply noise within the source component
Not all digital sources are the same, they should be, but the world isn't perfect.
willd58 said:
Zod said:
On my main system, I have a high(-ish - the hifi loons would think it cheap crap) end CD transport (Cyrus CD Xt), a Squeezebox Duet and a Cyrus DAC XP (a dual DAC pre-amp). It is almost impossible to distinguish between a CD and an Aplle lossless rip of the same CD played through the Squeezebox.
Almost impossible or impossible? I don't see how 2 digital sources running the the same converter will sound different.The simple rule applies...poor sound in = poor sound out.
Start with the best source you can afford and upgrade the rest as you can afford/wish...
I have a Roksan Kandy III CD player and it makes a nice sound. If I want to listen to music all evening, I invariably end up playing vinyl on my Linn Sondek LP12. If I am preparing dinner in my kitchen with the cooker extractor hood running, I put the iPod Nano on...convenient background noise.
If I go to the beach for the day (like last Sunday at Southwold), I take the Nano with a decent pair of comfy Sennheiser HD477 headphones...great music on the move. I have tried my AKG240 and Sennheiser HD650 headphones with the Nano and the Nano was unable to drive them properly and sounded terrible...honest!
Back to my original comment...I guess that also applies here? A good quality pair of headphones like the HD650 need an excellent source, as they are very revealing.
Apologies for the long response, I hope it was helpful. BTW I am not a Hi-Fi buff or Hi-Fi snob, I just love music...especially live or well reproduced.
Start with the best source you can afford and upgrade the rest as you can afford/wish...
I have a Roksan Kandy III CD player and it makes a nice sound. If I want to listen to music all evening, I invariably end up playing vinyl on my Linn Sondek LP12. If I am preparing dinner in my kitchen with the cooker extractor hood running, I put the iPod Nano on...convenient background noise.
If I go to the beach for the day (like last Sunday at Southwold), I take the Nano with a decent pair of comfy Sennheiser HD477 headphones...great music on the move. I have tried my AKG240 and Sennheiser HD650 headphones with the Nano and the Nano was unable to drive them properly and sounded terrible...honest!
Back to my original comment...I guess that also applies here? A good quality pair of headphones like the HD650 need an excellent source, as they are very revealing.
Apologies for the long response, I hope it was helpful. BTW I am not a Hi-Fi buff or Hi-Fi snob, I just love music...especially live or well reproduced.
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