Single CD players

[Maximo]

Can some of you post what players you have, along with speakers.

I'm thinking maybe I wont go with a 5 cd changer anymore and was curious what some of you are all listening to your music on.

[tinobeat]

CD/DVD player: Sony DVP-NS315
Turntable: Sony PS-LX300H
Preamp/Tuner: NAD 1700
Power Amp: NAD 2200
Speakers: Bose Model 21

[frank]

I've got an NAD 521BEE which I would put up against anything in the price range (and maybe even above the price range).

http://www.nadelectronics.com/cd_players/C521BEE_framset.htm

The CAmbridge Audio Azur series are also really good.

[Funk]

Originally posted by Maximo
Can some of you post what players you have, along with speakers.

I'm thinking maybe I wont go with a 5 cd changer anymore and was curious what some of you are all listening to your music on.

I have a 5 CD changer (Yamaha) that I got aboot 15 months ago only because I was informed by the store that they no longer make single CD players, unless you want to get into audiophile territory (or a Discman). I'd much rather have a single disc player and had contemplated buying a cheap DVD player and hooking it up to the stereo, but in the end took the bulky monstrosity that is a 5 disc changer. From 1985 through to late 2003, I rocked single Technics CD players. They no longer make them.

I have Bose speakers, but I never listen to music through anything except headphones, so they're more for decoration.

[the Pawnbroker]

Turntable: Thorens TD166Mk2
CD Player: Denon DV2200 (DVD/SACD Player)
Receiver: Denon: AVR1803
Speakers: Paradigm Studio 60v3

Which is ok, but I am bargaining with the wife for serious amp upgrade.

Patrick, what have you heard about older (1980s) Snell Acoustic tower speakers?

[Patrick]

Funk, Max: At the risk of repeating myself in several different threads, the Toshiba SD-3950 and SD-3960 SINGLE-DISC DVD players also play CDs, cost about US$60 online, and are reckoned a "giant killer" by people on Audio Asylum, and even by John Atkinson, editor of Stereophile. You may disagree, but for $60 it might be worth taking that chance. I did, and I like it just fine. If you don't like it as a CD player, you can always use it for DVD.

So that answers Funk's question... and answers Max's question partially. At the office I have a $750 single-disc Rotel player that is probably better than the Toshiba... more bass, fullness, weight. But is it $690 better? Probably not.

PB, I answered your query about Snell in the bookshelf speaker thread. You're building up a nice system there - what cart do you have on the Thorens? I agree that the amp is probably next if you're feeling the upgrade bug.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

Originally posted by Patrick


PB, I answered your query about Snell in the bookshelf speaker thread. You're building up a nice system there - what cart do you have on the Thorens? I agree that the amp is probably next if you're feeling the upgrade bug.

Patrick

Its the first real stereo I bought, so I had nothing to build on. If I had to do it over again, I might have seen what the same money would buy me used.

Cartridge: Grado Green (saw you mention it in one of the turntable threads here).

Having gone from an old ADCOM cartridge (higher output), the Grado has taken some getting used to. Combined with the Paradigms (which are precise but possibly a touch on the polite side), I love how jazz sounds on the turntable, but still want rock to have more punch.

Amp: I may be able to lay my hands on a late 80s early-90s Krell power amp (its either a KSA-80 or -200) Either would solve my power craving quite easily, correct?

We need an audiophile thread to capture all the various equipment related discussions.

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by the Pawnbroker
We need an audiophile thread to capture all the various equipment related discussions.

A sticky "Matador Audio Discussion Greatest Hits" post would probably be good. Link to all the past Audio/Stereo recco posts in one post and have it stay up top.

Tape Op's message board as a meta-post like that:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=39ecbcdc23c9246e1c60270c8847b7b9

The one called "Sticky: 'Best Of' the TapeOp Message Board (FAQ)"

[Patrick]

Originally posted by the Pawnbroker
Cartridge: Grado Green (saw you mention it in one of the turntable threads here).

Having gone from an old ADCOM cartridge (higher output), the Grado has taken some getting used to. Combined with the Paradigms (which are precise but possibly a touch on the polite side), I love how jazz sounds on the turntable, but still want rock to have more punch.

Ah yes, the Grados can be a trifle low-output. We have a Grado Gold on the office TT up here, and the volume always needs punching up when switching from CDs.

Amp: I may be able to lay my hands on a late 80s early-90s Krell power amp (its either a KSA-80 or -200) Either would solve my power craving quite easily, correct?

Oh yes.

On the Tape Op-style sticky: maybe I'll give that a try when I have a spare minute or two.

Patrick

[Funk]

Originally posted by Patrick
Funk, Max: At the risk of repeating myself in several different threads, the Toshiba SD-3950 and SD-3960 SINGLE-DISC DVD players also play CDs, cost about US$60 online, and are reckoned a "giant killer" by people on Audio Asylum, and even by John Atkinson, editor of Stereophile. You may disagree, but for $60 it might be worth taking that chance. I did, and I like it just fine. If you don't like it as a CD player, you can always use it for DVD.


I'm not fucking buying another player to replace one that's only 15 months old.

I bought a cheap ass DVD player in 2003 that plays DVDs, CDs, and JPEGs on my TV screen.
$70 Canadian, which at the time may have been $45US. Top that!

PS Fuck audio asylum. I spend an hour or so reading their vinyl board aboot a year ago and some of those people don't know what the fuck they're talking aboot.

[Patrick]

Very true - lots of idiots post on AA.

So how do CDs sound on your DVD player?

Patrick

[frank]

I used to use a Panasonic DVD changer for my CD player as well. I bought the NAD 521BEE cause I was on a stereo equipment kick and I figured I could do better as a source - and I was right. The dedicated CD player sounds so much fuller and warmer than the DVD player did.

This isn't to say my experience is representative of all DVD players as audio sources, but I think I'll be keeping them separate for the forseeable future. Unless someone makes a really kick-ass DVD player that also does SACD and DVD-A...

[Wallerton]

Originally posted by frank
Unless someone makes a really kick-ass DVD player that also does SACD and DVD-A...

Got a Pioneer DV-563A about a year ago for about $175 that plays DVD, DVD-A, SACD, CD, JPEG, and mp3. I don't have any DVD-A discs, but the one SACD I have sounds pretty good. But I've really been most pleasantly surprised by redbook CD's--they usually sound noticeably better on this modest player than they do on the Sony CDP-XA1ES I paid about $375 for seven years ago. D'oh!

'Course, the Sony has it all over the Pioneer when it comes to features and ease of use.

[Maximo]

While getting an entire setup would be amazing, this is just for my bedroom so I was thinking more along the lines of the best quality for the tiny standalone system. My dream system is the Nakamichi SS-5. My friend has it and it's amazing, too bad it's about $800.

Actually, I just looked it up and apparently I might be able to get it for $600. This sounds great, and its an affordable price. If anyone has the time to look over the specs and let me know what they think please do so :)

I've listened to it before and am very satisfied with the quality.

[Patrick]

If it sounds good to you, that's truly the only spec that matters.

Patrick

[Maximo]

Its quite possible i'm missing something-- if you dont mind, maybe you could look at the system?

www.nakamichi.com

Just click on the Soundspace 5 button.

[Patrick]

Personally I'm not a big fan of mini systems. Even in a small room I'd rather have fullsize speakers set 7 or 8 feet away from me than really small metal or plastic speakers a foot or two away. For more intimate listening I prefer headphones.

But that's my personal taste.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

Whatever you buy now, eventually you will probably want to get a better system. It is easier and cheaper to upgrade your system one component at a time, rather than all at once.

Therefore, I recommend doing the best you can within your budget to get components (receiver/speakers/source) now, even if they are not the best. As time and money goes on, you can upgrade the weakest link in your system.

Of course, this is difficult to do without spending some money upfront. I know it is hard but I would save save save.

[Maximo]

Originally posted by the Pawnbroker
Whatever you buy now, eventually you will probably want to get a better system. It is easier and cheaper to upgrade your system one component at a time, rather than all at once.

Therefore, I recommend doing the best you can within your budget to get components (receiver/speakers/source) now, even if they are not the best. As time and money goes on, you can upgrade the weakest link in your system.

Of course, this is difficult to do without spending some money upfront. I know it is hard but I would save save save.


Is it worth buying a system though if its just for my room? We have a pretty nice system in the living room already.