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Why buy a CD player ?

kappclark

AK Subscriber
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I got back into listening to CDs, and got a Onkyo 7030, which has had skipping challenges. I cleaned the CD's, got the lens cleaner CD - still issues .. then I isolated the player on a rigid wall-mounted shelf (no more skipping when walking) .. better, but still plms..still could not get all the way through In My Tribe

Loaded the CD into the computer, and it played flawlessly ..

So, I connected a Sony Blu Ray player (I think it cost about $100), ran coax out to the Schit DAC, mounted the maniacs and NO SKIP ! Sounds terrific (the Onkyo was using the same DAC ).

Is there any reason to buy a $$$ CD player ? when it looks like the blu ray fits the bill for playing audio cds ?? Is there something a CD player does that the blu ray player does not ?
 
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Sure.

I personally hate my Sony DVD as a cd player, though it performs flawlessly. One has to connect it to a tv to access all the sound geegaws.

Sounds like your Onkyo has an issue. Perhaps hit up dr*audio's thread about repairing cd players. Maybe you can figure out what went askew.

Best wishes.
 
Some say the video processing can mess up the audio signal. I have a Sony 5 disk dvd player with SACD and I also have the CD only Sony SACD capable changer that was being made at the same time and I almost gave myself an aneurysm trying to hear the diff between the 2 of em.

I have had some single disk players (dvd and CD) that sold new in the $1000 range and I didnt use them much because I prefer the changers and for me the sound quality diff isnt worth constantly swapping CDs. I tried dozens of diff CD/DVD players when you could pick them up at thrifts for $10 and have decided the SQ is similar enough between the majority of them so I ended up with a CD only Denon changer in living room, a Sony SACD capable changer in basement and a Onkyo CD changer in garage.

The Denon is 35 years old and the tray opening is getting a little wonky and that is the only thing concerning me about my CD players right now, and it doesnt concern me much because I have another one just like it as a backup. Most all of them single disk players were donated back to the store I picked them up at.
 
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Once you run it digital out to a DAC, the CD or DVD or BluRay player becomes a transport so the sound quality should be the same. I have had quite a few DVD and BluRay players stand in for my Yamaha CD-2 while I was fixing it over the years and they all sounded the same going through my DAC.
 
Faster play and track access with a decent CD player compared to multi disk players.

All are not equal in CD Players or Multi Disk players, even when used as transports, I used to use a modded CD Player, then various disk players as transports, now a dedicated transport gives me both fast access and improved information retrieval and better sound.
 
I own an Onkyo 7030 since that model came out never had skipping. My home is the second oldest in my town. That said my Onkyo7030 is on a platform I used in my mid 30's. I would sprint 60 meters grab a 50lbs. dumbels in each hands and then jump up and down from 10 times walk back rinse and repeat. So it is all 2x4 scraps and 1" thick plywood scrap.

My house has a full basement even though it was built without one origanaly. So I understand vibration and squeky floor boards! I can not imagine walking on anything other than a house boat would translate enough movement to make the CD player skip.

It makes me wonder if you have a bad unit?
 
Yes = probably a bad unit .. and a real disappointment .. purchased in April '24 - a refurbished unit ..
 
I've seen places that class 'refurbished' as a wipe with a damp cloth, and a 5 minute test. How much warranty did you get with it?
 
If the Blu Ray player is working and you like how it operates then that should be it. If you want a CD player then hop on Ebay and grab one for a song. Plenty to choose from. I like the JVC units for sound quality and durability. But if you are only going to use it as a transport anyway I would just keep using the Blu Ray player...
 
I've used a few DVD and BR players for CD and I've found that the mechanisms take significantly longer to respond than a dedicated CD player.
This can get annoying if an operation requiring multiple button presses is needed.

I think most are trying to load a menu, which most CD's don't have, or the built in menu from the device loads, after it figures out it's an audio disk.

To me, this is extremely annoying, and I'd rather just have a dedicated CD player.
 
My NAD CD player crashed out after 11 years.

So, I just played records for 3 months.

Then I just got lucky and found a 'like brand spanking new' Sony DVD/CD player at the GW for $8 (no remote).

Sounds Unreal.
Couldn't be happier!! Sony certainly has SYNERGY with Sansui!!
 
For me, a cd player means I can use a “jukebox” style one.

Personally, I prefer physical media. Cd, LP, cassette, even 8 track. I just like having something I can physically interact with.

My current CD player is a Kenwood 200 cd player. Model CD-425m.

IMG_7539.jpeg

15 bucks at the thrift store. Brought it home, popped the case, visual inspection of mech and electronics, cleaning and re-lubricated the transport mech.

Old tech, but new enough for optical out:

IMG_7541.jpeg

Takes my entire cd collection with about 80 slots still to spare, so lots of room to grow the collection should I want to.

Load it up and then its just a simple matter of choosing which one I want to listen to. No fussing with opening jewel case, loading or unloading. No worried of dropping or scratching them, no worries about fingerprints or other “dirt” issues.

Cool IR remote:

IMG_7775.jpeg

and it even has an IR keyboard to enter the cd name, title and track titles. Plus, it will also store things like genre, etc:

IMG_7776.jpeg

Main display shows them as you scroll through the discs and then shows you the track titles as they play:

IMG_7546.jpeg

Hard to catch the letters in a pic as it scrolls, but its there. Some discs have the data embedded, ones that don’t you can enter manually. Simple dot matrix display, so titles longer than the display scroll as it plays. Move the disc to a different slot and the stored data in the player follows it. Remove the disc and put it back in at a later date and the player remembers the data for it. Holds on to any entered data in memory for 3 weeks in event of power outage (so the manual says) so no fears of loosing all your work entering the title info.

It will play a list of discs you define, it will play discs of a specific genre and lot more other options.

I keep an excel spread sheet of the disc order and keep a printed copy next to the player for easy look up of what disc is where. I also keep the jewel cases in the same order in the rack, just in case I may want to read the insert information.

Old tech, but still cool. Sounds great. Works for me. YMMV….
 
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For me, a cd player means I can use a “jukebox” style one.

Personally, I prefer physical media. Cd, LP, cassette, even 8 track. I just like having something I can physically interact with.

My current CD player is a Kenwood 200 cd player. Model CD-425m.
How do you interact with a bunch of CDs that are sitting in a jukebox? You get less interaction that way than you would ripping them to a HDD and streaming them while the CDs sit in a box in a closet...
 
How do you interact with a bunch of CDs that are sitting in a jukebox? You get less interaction that way than you would ripping them to a HDD and streaming them while the CDs sit in a box in a closet...
Not at all. I choose them from the list, I peruse the jewel cases inserts as I please.

As I mentioned, the jewel cases are in a rack in the room with it all for me to handle and read (although deteriorating eyes means vinyl album inserts are easier to read these days) as I see fit. They’re kept in the same order as in the player, so easy peasy to find.

Art work, lyrics, dates, sound engineer, location, label, guest artists, notes and whatever else is on the insert it at my fingertips whenever I want,

Nothing is “sitting in a box in a closet”. Thats your paradigm, not mine.

“Interacting” doesn’t just mean physically handling a shiny round piece of acrylic.

Don’t try and force your narrow definition/views on others because it

Just.

Does.

Not.

Apply.

If you want to stream, then stream. You want to rip and never see them again, then rip and “hide them in a closet” somewhere.

I walk a different path, one of my own choosing. I do not (and will not) conform to your narrow views. Thats what audio enjoyment is all about: individuality. Choice. Variety.

Vive le difference!

You have a good night now.

Toodles.
 
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99.9% of my listening is via cd. So a worthwhile good quality cdp works best for me. Even my Oppo 103 blu-ray player while very good, is not as good as my dedicated cdp. I never liked the idea of a jukebox cd player, too clunky for my purposes. I do have a 5 disc carousel player I use when entertaining or spending hours outside. I do not feel it is necessary to introduce a DAC into my stereo as I am happy with the sound as is. Use whatever set up works best for you. My theory is “KISS”, keep it simple stupid.
 

Why buy a CD player?​

To play CDs? To make it look like you have some CDs to play? To fill that empty space on your audio rack? To just look at the pretty lights on its display? To piss off your wife? :dunno:
 
Not at all. I choose them from the list, I peruse the jewel cases inserts as I please.

As I mentioned, the jewel cases are in a rack in the room with it all for me to handle and read (although deteriorating eyes means vinyl album inserts are easier to read these days) as I see fit. They’re kept in the same order as in the player, so easy peasy to find.

Art work, lyrics, dates, sound engineer, location, label, guest artists, notes and whatever else is on the insert it at my fingertips whenever I want,

Nothing is “sitting in a box in a closet”. Thats your paradigm, not mine.

“Interacting” doesn’t just mean physically handling a shiny round piece of acrylic.

Don’t try and force your narrow definition/views on others because it

Just.

Does.

Not.

Apply.

If you want to stream, then stream. You want to rip and never see them again, then rip and “hide them in a closet” somewhere.

I walk a different path, one of my own choosing. I do not (and will not) conform to your narrow views. Thats what audio enjoyment is all about: individuality. Choice. Variety.

Vive le difference!

You have a good night now.

Toodles.
How you know which one is which, "in the jukebox"? Just curious.
 
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