| Author |
Thread: What to look for in a CD player |
    
New member Username: J1000
Pune,
Maharashtra
India
Post Number: 3
Registered: Sep-09
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 06:27 am: |
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guys,
I have recently bought paradigm studio 60 speakers and NAD C355 BEE integrated amp.Am currently playing it with my pioneer DVD player and am not happy with the sound.However, there is a whole lot of difference if i play through my i-pod.The sound is far detailed than the DVD player .Have seriously decided to go for a dedicated CD player.Need your recommendation.I would like to play all formats i.e CD-R, CD -RW ,MP3 etc....
thanks,
J |
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Silver Member Username: Hawkbilly
Nova Scotia
Canada
Post Number: 725
Registered: Jul-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 06:35 am: |
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Do you have a lot of CD's ? Or is most of your music collection MP3's, or other form of files ripped or downloaded ? |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 3217
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 06:37 am: |
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Your budget would help us give appropriate recommendations too. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 3218
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 07:06 am: |
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I think where Chris is going with this is a good suggestion. If most of your music is mp3 or some other digital format, you could look at buying a quality DAC instead of a CDP and using your computer as a source. A lot of people are going that route more and more. |
New member Username: J1000
Pune,
Maharashtra
India
Post Number: 4
Registered: Sep-09
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 07:15 am: |
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It is a combination of all. I have close to 300+ good quality CD's and i do keep on buying them.Just that i am looking our for a decent quality player that would do justice to all kinds of format..budget would be within US $ 500.
J |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 3220
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 07:30 am: |
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I'm sorta the same way. I have a sizable CD collection and I keep buying them, so I prefer to have a CD player. I have a PC based system as well, it doesn't come close to my CD based system. |
Platinum Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 11074
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 07:53 am: |
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A gently used Rega Apollo would be my recommendation. |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2801
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 07:54 am: |
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I keep buying cd's too, and I keep putting them in my music server.lol I like having the best of both worlds.
Jayram- I have personally come to the conclusion that a mid priced 500-1000 dollar DAC, giving the right combination(The output on the machine depends a lot on the sound as well) can easily smash most 1500-2500 dollar cd players. A dedicated cd player is fun too though. If your going to just use a regular PC or Laptop feeding a 100 dollar DAC then I would opt out for a dedicated cd player myself. Just some thoughts. |
New member Username: J1000
Pune,
Maharashtra
India
Post Number: 5
Registered: Sep-09
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 08:18 am: |
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Nick.. thanks for the inputs... What make and model of DAC would you recommend? |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 3221
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 08:28 am: |
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I've read great things about the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic, and it's pretty reasonably priced too (around 500 bucks). I would guess that it's probably the same DAC that's in the CA 840C CDP. |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2803
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 12:18 pm: |
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Yeah the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic is great. My dealer gave it to me for 420 taxes in which is a bargain. Usually its 500 like David said. David is right, it is the exact DAC that is in the 840C and it sounds wonderful. Also I have a HRT Music Streamer Plus and basic model. The Plus is right up there with the Magic, but different and the basic HRT model is an amazing bargain for 100 dollars. The HRT basic gives you quality that a 400-600 dollar CDP would produce. I would recommend any of the three. |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2804
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 12:19 pm: |
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Nuck has the Grant Fidelity unit that is suppose to be a great sounding unit for 300-400 dollars. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 3222
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 12:24 pm: |
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Nick, is the DACMagic a dual-differential unit? My 640C has dual Wolfson DACs which supposedly helps with stereo imaging. |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2806
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 12:51 pm: |
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Yup it uses Wolfson WM8740's running in dual differential mode. Same as the 840c. Sounds nice. |
Gold Member Username: Mike3
Wylie,
Tx
USA
Post Number: 2203
Registered: May-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 11:36 pm: |
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I am starting to think about the 6moons review of the HRT Media Streamer+ and am considering obtaining the same USB cable that Srajan Ebaen used for his evaluation with it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/streamer/streamer+.html |
Gold Member Username: My_rantz
Gold Coast
Australia
Post Number: 2604
Registered: Nov-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 12:15 am: |
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Mike, stop thinking before you get further than starting
- it's a lot cheaper that way. LOL! |
New member Username: J1000
Pune,
Maharashtra
India
Post Number: 6
Registered: Sep-09
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 12:35 am: |
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Nick/David,
Thanks for all the help.Have got some idea on which directon to go.. will keep you posted once i make my decision |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 604
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 12:53 am: |
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David,
CA840c uses Anagram Technologies d/a convertors. They call them 'blackfin', for whatever reason.
I don't believe any relation to the DacMagic |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 605
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 01:02 am: |
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sorry,
See link to 840c specs for correction::
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=112&Title=Azur+840C+Black+Fin+DSP+ upsampling+CD+player
Anagram Technologies is a Swiss company. The devices used in the CA 840c allow upsampling to 384khz. |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2808
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 08:11 am: |
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Excellent Leo. Did the 840C always use that device? Or has it recently been changed? |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2809
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 08:14 am: |
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Their web site says they use the Anagram based technology but old reviews on it say the wolfsons.lol Wack!! An upgrade perhaps? Pretty cool though. The 840c must be a very good unit indeed. |
Silver Member Username: Magfan
USA
Post Number: 606
Registered: Oct-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 11:19 am: |
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840c sound compliments my panels and 'd' amp. The stuff I listen to sounds very coherent, at least for single session recordings.
I don't use it enough, though. Most of my listening is casual thru XM / small dish.
I'm a little late to the party and simply don't remember the 840c NOT being adverted with the Anagram chipset. The balanced outs are also a slight gain against the UN. But that was with the issued cable, true junk, VS the Mogami.
No further changes for me. Next 'upgrade' will be something to listen to in the garage. And it ain't gonna be pretty! |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2810
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 08:57 pm: |
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lol nice!!!! |
Platinum Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 13866
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 05:29 pm: |
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Your Media Centre sounds really cool, Nick! |
Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10
Post Number: 2815
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 06:17 pm: |
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Sure is Nuck. Won't be mine for long  |
