CD Changer VS Single Player

[Mark111867]

Hi. I have been using a 5 cd changer (Denon DCM270) for about 5 years. Over the past year or so, it has started to skip. Some of the cd's are new, so I know that it is not a cd issue. This situation has left me thinking about buying a new player. Is there a difference in quality between a cd changer and a single disc player? I've been thinking about something like the NAD C521BEE. I enjoy the convenience of a changer, but if a single cd player offers more in the way of sound quality and durability, I would make the sacrifice. My budget is around $300 or less. Thanks.

[20to20K]

Hi. I have been using a 5 cd changer (Denon DCM270) for about 5 years. Over the past year or so, it has started to skip. Some of the cd's are new, so I know that it is not a cd issue. This situation has left me thinking about buying a new player. Is there a difference in quality between a cd changer and a single disc player? I've been thinking about something like the NAD C521BEE. I enjoy the convenience of a changer, but if a single cd player offers more in the way of sound quality and durability, I would make the sacrifice. My budget is around $300 or less. Thanks.

If your only issue with the Denon is the present skipping it may be worth checking out.
It may something as simple as the laser lens needs cleaning or the laser itself needs re-aligning. Ones a $10 solution the other...$50-$75 depending on who you take it to.

For $300 I doubt you can find anything new that is going to be a significant upgrade over your Denon when it is in normal operating condition.

Now if you're just using this little problem as an excuse to upgrade (I do it ALL the time)
then I'll leave well enough alone and tell you to let that upgrade bug bite away.

In my second system I have an old Pioneer PDM-70 6 disk changer that I bought in 1988 that still works flawlessly. While the extra moving mechanisms of a changer probably adds more risk to problems, I think build quality, care, and just sheer luck are more of a determining factor in life expectancy (kind of like us humans!) I pretty sure that a well cared for rotel changer will last longer than a Walmart single disk player owned by a 13 year old.

[Mark111867]

Thanks for the advice 20to20k. Other than the skipping, I really don't have a big beef with the Denon. I guess that I'm a bit "gun shy" when it comes to having repairs done, as in the past, I was better off not having the repair done and buying new, which is how I approached this problem. The repairs were never 100% and I got tired of having to go back to the repair shop. If there is not much of a difference though, I'll consider having this cd player repaired. Thanks again.

[jeskibuff]

I'm a big fan of carousels. I have two Sonys...a CD player with 300-disc capacity that I've played the crap out of since about 1997 (and it keeps on ticking) and a 400-disc DVD/SACD player that I've had a bit over a year now. My sister just got a 400-disc DVD/SACD unit that she's totally thrilled with...no loading, storing or handling discs...everything is sooo convenient! Although she also got a whole new system (Hsu sub, Swan rosewood surround system & Yamaha HTR-5760), she seems to be most pleased with the carousel. We got it from eTronics at just under $300 not including $15 shipping.

I had a Denon 5-disc changer years ago and the loading/changing mechanism failed.

[20to20K]

I'm a big fan of carousels. I have two Sonys...a CD player with 300-disc capacity that I've played the crap out of since about 1997 (and it keeps on ticking) and a 400-disc DVD/SACD player that I've had a bit over a year now. My sister just got a 400-disc DVD/SACD unit that she's totally thrilled with...no loading, storing or handling discs...everything is sooo convenient! Although she also got a whole new system (Hsu sub, Swan rosewood surround system & Yamaha HTR-5760), she seems to be most pleased with the carousel. We got it from eTronics at just under $300 not including $15 shipping.

I had a Denon 5-disc changer years ago and the loading/changing mechanism failed.

Nice setup...I'm impressed.

I'd like to add a changer to my main system as well but I'm holding out for finding a specific one. I've been searching for a Denon DCM-5000 for about 6 months now. It's an audiophile quality 100 disk changer with dual transports, 24 bit Burr Brown DAC, and supports HDCD. The dual tranport feature allow crossfading from track to track which I think is very cool. It has all the other nicities of a modern megachanger but with super high quality construction.

They stopped making them about 5 years ago and they are hard to find on the used market. I recently got outbid on Ebay for one...it went for over $600 and I couldn't be near my computer when the auction closed so my hibid got passed.

Oh well...the search continues...

[jeskibuff]

Nice setup...I'm impressed.

Thanks. I recently made some changes...will have to post the new setup soon.

I've been searching for a Denon DCM-5000 for about 6 months now. It's an audiophile quality 100 disk changer with dual transports, 24 bit Burr Brown DAC, and supports HDCD. The dual tranport feature allow crossfading from track to track which I think is very cool.

It might be cool, but do you think you'll be using that feature much? I think it would be valuable for a DJ, but I wouldn't think it would be used in everyday listening applications. As for the DAC, I let my processor handle the digital signals. For the SACD and DTS discs, the 400-disc Sony sounds great to me. Maybe in an A/B comparison there may be a subtle difference, but I doubt it'd be worth much. For the HDCD issue, are there even many out there? I can't say as I've ever seen an HDCD disc...the SACDs and DVD-As though almost invisible are still more conspicuous than HDCD.

It has all the other nicities of a modern megachanger but with super high quality construction.

Well, 100 discs is just a quarter the capacity of a 400-disc carousel. It would take seven of them to equal the capacity of my two carousels.

Look how many discs fit into just my 300-disc player:

They stopped making them about 5 years ago and they are hard to find on the used market.

Do you really want to buy a player that's at least 5 years old? From my understanding the lasers have a limited lifespan, degrading over time. Maybe that's much improved now, but I'd want a player that I'll be able to use for some time.

Just for the record, I am not a Sony sales rep!