• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Upgrade my CD Player?

C

Centropolis

Member
I currently have an old Pioneer PD-7100 CD player connected to a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (original not Plus or 100). Being both my CD player and DAC are not higher end equipment, would I be better off with just buying a $200 used CD player that's a relatively recent model from NAD or Marantz or Rotel? I am wondering if the built-in DAC for some of the newer CD players probably is atleast equal or better than using my Cambridge Audio DAC Magic?

I don't usually connect my computer to play music using this system so let's leave that out of the equation.

Any comments?
 
Register to hide this ad
IMO - try to find a used Emotiva ERC-2

You won't find a better transport... Aint bad as a standalone CDP either
 
I got a Marantz CD5004 from a fellow AK for your price range and love this thing. You should be able to pick up something used in your range that is nice.
 
There are only two reasons I'd invest in another component CD player: that I want another backup (the weakest reason, and yet the one I yielded to), or that the unit under consideration sounds better than what I've already got. Also, if it matters, is the repairability factor: are parts there for the unit - new or old?

After my last recent impulsive pocket change thrift store purchase my CD player tally is four: two Pioneers and two Sonys. The Pioneers were bought in the early '90s. The first one played for three years, then decided it wouldn't play beyond track #3 on any disc. It then languished in a box in the basement for 20 years before benefiting from a second look in anticipation of repair. At this point it decided to play anything again in any order asked. Go figure...! The second Pioneer played well for about twenty years before the pickup lens decided to separate itself from the rest of the player. It works again after repair.

I have a Sony in my main system since around 1994 which has worked flawlessly, and it sounds nice - great at finding detail, and it presents highs without harshness. My second Sony, the option-challenged thrift store unit is in the secondary system. I simply like it's sound more than the heavier optioned Pioneer it displaced. It is better at presenting small sound detail than the Pioneers. This unit did require some vibration resistant rubber pads cemented to it's hard plastic feet to temper it's sensitivity to vibration.

It seems there are small but discernible output differences between CD players. They all produce perfect music. However, within the bounds of personal taste, some are slightly more perfect than others.
 
Sony DVP NS900V, originally sold for $1000, can usually be had for under a C-note including shipping. Also plays SACD, very nice sounding unit, whether it's a step up only you can decide.
 
Before you buy ANYTHING, you owe it to yourself to try your CD's out on a Blu-Ray player (all other gear as per usual). Ya, I have retired my high-end transport and DAC.
 
Splatter Pak said:
Before you buy ANYTHING, you owe it to yourself to try your CD's out on a Blu-Ray player (all other gear as per usual). Ya, I have retired my high-end transport and DAC.
Click to expand...

I was using a Sony DVP-M50 for a long time till it started refusing to play half of my CDs. Oddly it would play most older CDs but not most new ones. Go figure. Then a friend gave me an old Phillips CD 781 CD player. It was OK. Not great, not a lot of dynamic range, but ok as an interim solution for the price. But lately it's started to randomly skip on most CDs.

My end goal is an OPPO BDP-105 but I'm a year away from being able to afford it. So for a new short term solution I just bought an LG BP-620. It has ca 95db SNR and 95db dynamic range, gives better sounding results than my last 2 solutions, and is one of the few Blu-Ray players in it's price class+ that still has 2-channel RCA outputs as well as the now normal Toslink and HDMI. And it even plays Blu-Rays reasonably well. For less than €100 I'm quite happy with it as a temporary solution.

Cheers,
James
 
Whar version is your dac magic if its the original one with the xlr outputs its a john westlake designe and is highly rated even today and quit rare now. So worth hanging onto even if you get a new player :-)
 
A CD player is not only a transport and DAC the analogue section is equally important. Regulated power supplies ect. Think of a CD player as a system. Truth is in the listening......
 
As above Buy a DVD player!
Cheap easy and "at least" :D equal to a better Audio CD gizmo.
Oppo is a proven winner at CD audio.
Also could try a Model 1 ! (only) Sony Playstation... these work v well at audio cd, but are often well used as a downside.
 
bare said:
As above Buy a DVD player!
Cheap easy and "at least" :D equal to a better Audio CD gizmo.
Oppo is a proven winner at CD audio.
Also could try a Model 1 ! (only) Sony Playstation... these work v well at audio cd, but are often well used as a downside.
Click to expand...

Yup.

I just bought a used/mint Denon CD-1930ci on the bay for less than $30. CD/DVD/SACD/DVD-A. If I had really thought about it I would have gotten an Oppo 982. They regularly sell for $130 or less.
 
I use a DVD player , excellent sound on cds , its hooked up to a tv screen as well as the amp so you can watch movies with stereo sound or burn a load of mp3 albums to a dvd-r and play them too .
 
Why don't you have a play with the PD7100s analogue stage and see if you can make some improvements? The front end is a great linear motor transport and the DACs are 16bit, but it has a class A FET buffer stage. Maybe have a poke about with the opamps/caps etc. You may be surprised, the PD7100 is a classic CD player.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom