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ADVICE ON REPLACING CD PLAYER

zimmer50

zimmer50

AK Member
I've recently had 3 "vintage" cd players go bad and need to replace the LXI that I am currently using. My two immediate choices, both about $170 are: Sony DVP-S9000ES from that other auction site and a new Onkyo C-7030 from Amazon. Both have gotten very good reviews, the Sony is 14 years old but is said to be owner refurbished (cleaned, etc.) with remote. Don't need DVD functions, at least for quite a while but am looking for the best sound in this price range. Power amp is a Kenwood Basic M1, Proton (NAD) model 950 is serving as the pre, Elac 50H table and heavily modified JBL L80t3 speakers.

Advice, comments and other suggestions most welcome. Current budget is about $200.
Thanks for your assistance.
 
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I've very happy with the TEAC CD-P650 even though the price seems to increase on a monthly basis. I love the USB input for my iPod/iPhone. Sounds great in my speaker test room where I also have modded L80T/3s, among others.
 
I actually bought the TEAC but returned it. To me the highs were somewhat strident and fatiguing, and the headphone jack produced a faint backround hiss. Also thinking perhaps the OPPO 981. I have the 103 for my main surround system, but am really looking for a player for my dedicated stereo room. Listen to Jazz, Classical, Classic Pop/Rock, and old mono releases, many of these recorded to computer from LP and then to CD--tedious, but well worth the effort. I'm sort of stone age--do not have iPod/Pad, mp3's, etc. Strictly vinyl, cd and lossless audio on the computer/main system. Your reply is very much appreciated.

BMWCCA said:
I've very happy with the TEAC CD-P650 even though the price seems to increase on a monthly basis. I love the USB input for my iPod/iPhone. Sounds great in my speaker test room where I also have modded L80T/3s, among others.
Click to expand...
 
zimmer50 said:
I actually bought the TEAC but returned it. To me the highs were somewhat strident and fatiguing, and the headphone jack produced a faint backround hiss.
Click to expand...
Not saying your impressions are wrong but let me just say I had none of those issues. I could suggest that perhaps the L80Ts were responsible for the high issues. I run the TEAC through a variety of JBLs including L96, 4412A, L7, L5, and even LSR305s with the waveguide HF designed after the M2s. All smooth and good and I'm primarily playing Jazz CDs, or lossless files from my iPod Classic 160GB. I have an older high-end Denon player in the same system and I can't say that I find any great difference in sound between them. I am running Crown PSL-2 front-end with a variety of Crown PS/PL amps. Could be it's just not a good match with your system. Could be I'd buy another and have those same problems. :dunno:

I guess you'll never know until you try another player and see if the same problems exist. Let us know.
 
Glad the Teac works so well for you. I still could really use some advice on reliable, musically satisfying and expandable (external dac, etc.) CD players. I'm not tied to any one name brand but price/performance are my main concerns. Appreciate any advice, Thanks.
 
When I need to, I run CD's through an outboard USB DAC. If you're running Windoze, the Steinberg UR22 is a good one. I also have the Steinberg UR28M, which operates in standalone mode as a preamp. It has a separate 2-channel line-level audio input I can switch to for the phono preamp I use. These are used on the test bench for the most part these days.

I've been through lots of the M-Audio, Presonus and other 'pro-sumer' DACs. For the main system, I use a Benchmark DAC2 and wish I'd switched long ago. Not cheap but well worth every penny, IMHO.

Cheers,

David
 
Thanks for your response, David, but the system I'm looking for an upgrade CD player for is stereo only. No computer connections, just turntable and cd player for sources. Appreciate your input.

Paul
 
I have been using Onkyo C-7030 for a year and a half now pretty much non-stop (I work from home and play CDs a lot on my main gear). The player is rock solid, and shows no signs of wear. It operates very quietly.

I can not really say anything about how the player sounds. Let's just put it this way that I do not hear it. It does not add or remove anything which is how I like it.
 
I have to also go for the Onkyo C-7030 you can't do better for the money. I enjoy it's sound and has some decent build quality. One thing it does do is if you use the skip track function it makes a audible tic. This does not bother me in the least but it has bothered other people.
 
Great advice! AudioMart seller has Cambridge for $190 w/ remote, no original packaging plus shipping. The Onkyo can be had for a little as $145 on Amazon w/ free shipping. They both look great. Go for the new w/ warranty, etc. or the "rarely used" Cambridge? Haven't heard either but I do have the Azur 651P phono pre and really like the quality. Opinions? Ideas? Been a great help narrowing things down for me. I'd love a Marantz, but even the discontinued models are "name brand" pricey.
 
I had a Cambridge Audio Azur 640 C V2 for a couple of years, and at the time it was the best sounding CDP (to my ears, of course) in its price range. I later upgraded to a Astin Trew AT 3500+, which costs 3 or 4 times as much. I have very good memories of the Cambridge Audio as a great performer.
 
Decided to go with the Onkyo C-7030. Free shipping and under $150, plus Amazon is great on returns if customer is not satisfied. Also will have an option to later add a DAC. So, thanks for all the advice and although I love the sound of many of the "vintage" players, their failure rate is only increasing.
Best,
Paul
 
zimmer50 said:
Decided to go with the Onkyo C-7030. Free shipping and under $150, plus Amazon is great on returns if customer is not satisfied. Also will have an option to later add a DAC. So, thanks for all the advice and although I love the sound of many of the "vintage" players, their failure rate is only increasing.
Best,
Paul
Click to expand...

Yes. I have used both the internal and external DACs with 7030. Right now I am using the dual DACs in my 9070, since that option is available. But I can't say that I would hear any difference between single and dual DAC performance. It is the same DAC in both cases after all just one for each channel in 9070.
 
I've had the Onkyo in system for over a week now and have some impressions to share. My stereo only system is: Kenwood Basic M1 power, Proton 460 used as a preamp, Miracord 50H table and modified JBL L80t3 speakers. The Onkyo is first of all a very solid well built players. Finish is excellent, controls either remote or front panel are smooth and responsive, draw opens and closes as smoothly & quietly as any player I have used. I have played regular CD's, CDRW's and many CD's which have been recorded from LP's. All have played flawlessly. Display is also well done with a nice dimmer function.

Now listening: This is so subjective so just my impressions. Have played rock, jazz, classical and quite a few oldies. On Charlie Haden & Jim Hall CD (so highly recommended) the bass is awesome--clear, tight, no bloat or anything other than as good as I've ever heard. Hall's guitar is likewise reproduced in pristine wonder. Sound is across the board simply brilliant. "Goat Rodeo" is another cd well worth checking out. Yo Yo Ma and a variety of bluegrass, country and classical musicians that is a surprise every time I play it. Again sound is excellent. Cello is so smooth and clear, other instruments are equally well reproduced with detailed but never shrill highs.
My only very slight issue with the Onkyo is that when compared to the mid-80's Phillips/Magnovox players it lacks a bit of their "sweetness". Not a huge difference but is apparent in midrange and vocals. Still, the Onkyo, even at double its price, is a bargain. Very well done, and it even has a warranty!

Thanks for all your advice,
Paul
 
Just read this thread and would like to ask if you've had an opportunity to compare the sound from your new Onkyo with the OPPO BDP-103. If so, what can you comment?
 
The OPPO's set up is very different so absolute comparisons are hard. The Oppo is connected to the analog RCA's on my Yamaha RX-A700 surround receiver. The main speakers are DCM TF600's supplemented by a great old Hsu subwoofer. Center speaker is a DCM CX17 & surrounds are DCM CX7's. So you can see that comparisons are complicated but....

Functionally the OPPO is flawless. It's drawer is quiet and stable. It decodes any disc I've used and is, of course awesome with SACD, DVD-A and BluRay, both audio and movies. On standard CD/CDR's the OPPO is very detailed with no noticeable weakness, except perhaps being a bit too analytical especially in the higher registers, but it is not a fatigue inducing player. Price for the OPPO is around $500 vs. the $145 for the Onkyo. Given the price difference, the fact that the Onkyo is only a dedicated CD player I would certainly go for the OPPO for a home entertainment system, especially its awesome video and soundtrack abilities. For a really very good, better than I had expected, dedicated CD player I would buy the Onkyo and take the extra $350 for other upgrades/equipment. But, keep in mind the vast difference in the respective systems. Connecting the Onkyo to the main theater system would be quite difficult, given some fairly serious physical disabilities, but perhaps one day I'll try.

Best,
Paul
 
Thanks. I own the BDP-103 and know it quite well. It was just a question if you had a direct comparison between the two sonically.
 
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