What do u think about this CD Player??

[RGA]

We should not speak in such a wide scope, vintage versus new, it depends on the player. A good player will always be a good player within reason and entry level will always be entry level new or vintage. For instance, an Arcam Alpha 9 is getting long in the tooth but you'd still have to pay a good price to find something better. Of course, retail was $1500.00 or so. So if you can pick up any of these gems at a good price it's better than a new player up to a certain point. Another thing about vintage the lasers and certain other parts of these players only last so long, so a CDP is not like an amp or good speaker that will last for 25 years. I'd say if you have one last ten you are doing good.

That's a good point. Consumer Reports claimed that the average life of all CD players is 7 years not including DOA. So of course some players will die in 8 months and some will last 20 years. You never really know but if you are buying used I would be leary on buy a cd player over about 3-4 years unless it has a very robust transport. My Cambridge Audio CD 6 while a budget player uses the DiscMagic transport mechanism from their separates package. The player is something like 13 years old and runs perfectly. I have been through 4 dvd players in that time and an LD machine that all got less use. And I bought a closeout demo unit that was "on" all day in day out for a couple of years getting heavy use

If money is the thing - I would buy a relatively cheap cd player and spend the most money on an an external DAC. The External DAC has no moving parts should last as long or longer than amplifiers. Then if you don't spend much on a cd player then if they break down every 3 years it's not breaking the bank.

I paid something like $200 for a Sony 300 disc changer - add a DAC you get all the features under the sun and the sound quality of the DAC. While transports make a difference at these prices the money is better spent on the DAC. You can Arcam and Cambridge DAC's for dirt cheap on the used market. In fact Arcam is a bit of a goldmine on the used market. You could pick up Delta 290P power amps for about $200 and they're very nice power amps - you could buy two and run them as monoblocks. Add a 290 integrated and flip the internal switch and you can run it is a preamp. Maybe pick up an older Rega Planet cd player and use it as a transport (they were quite good) and a CA or Arcam dac and you could probably do all of this for $800-$1000 - not too shabby at all.

[RGA]

Indeed Rich, our tastes are similar. My Magnavox uses a 1543 with 4 times over sampling. I use a NOS 1543 for my comps digital output. It's truly a wonderful chip.

I think it's pretty telling how good that chip is when it is in current $3k+ cd players - there is clearly something to them because it actually costs Audio Note more to get these chips in bulk than it would to buy the newest varieties.

[poppachubby]

I think it's pretty telling how good that chip is when it is in current $3k+ cd players - there is clearly something to them because it actually costs Audio Note more to get these chips in bulk than it would to buy the newest varieties.

I have annoyed everyone here enough with my Philips TDA flagwaving. This was the point I ws speaking to in the vintage v modern CDP debate. Sure, the applications are far more advanced now, but I still believe that in general terms, my Magnavox can outplay many lower level CDPs of today. Some of the new NAD players are appalingly harsh IMO, but they aren't the only guilty party.

Today I hooked up my PS2 to my 1543 NOS dac. This inputs to my H/T system. Every cliche regarding this chip came apparent...

[3LB]

My $6 thrift store Magnavox can give many a CDP a run for the money in terms of detail and presentation. I have pitted it against a couple of NAD Bee players and a couple of older Rotel players, it held it's own without issue.

an inconvenient truth for a lot of audiophiles. Truth is, not many people discern the difference twix any price level of CDP when they can't see the brand name.

Anyhow, if you're enjoying your Kenwood, that's what counts. There's more fidelity available with the digital format, so visit a hifi shop and check some gear out. But again, if the Kenny does it for you, let them suck lemons!!

true dat, mon. Like Pixel said, its prolly a rebranded item, but big whoop, if it works, it works.

[pixelthis]

an inconvenient truth for a lot of audiophiles. Truth is, not many people discern the difference twix any price level of CDP when they can't see the brand name.

true dat, mon. Like Pixel said, its prolly a rebranded item, but big whoop, if it works, it works.

(daylight come and me wanna go home)

[pixelthis]

ARGUING about CD players has always been fun, in spite of the fact that you can't tell
a dimes' worth of diff between them.
But the argument is especially irrelevant today, what with the CD format nearing its end, with the lifespan of a fruitfly.
So which CD player do you want to sit around and collect dust?
WHICH WILL FILL WITH THE MOST CEMENT and make the best boat anchor?

[hifitommy]

yer funny...looking since you said THAT. get yourself to a doctor for an ear cleaning ASAP.

really pix, you make yourself look foolish when you say stupid things like that. WHAT kind of electronics do you have? it must be LO-FI ir midfi at best. with low end equipment the diffs are fairly obscure.

when you wash the glass, you can see through it better. as you go up the ladder, the electronics get cleaner.

the magnavox may be old and cheap, but it wasnt lo-fi. mine tromped my friend's technics player with BASH technology (great bass i WILL say). the imaging and clarity of the magnavox was a large contrast.

music just sounded more like music with the mag vs the technics. if you go to the sony 5400, you make a chasm from the gap in quality. i enjoy most of that leap with affordable units. it seems the sacd capability enables much better sound from RBCD.

please gain some real experience before embarrassing yourself again.

[poppachubby]

Indeed pix, your position is too extreme. The Magnavox, and anything else containing a TDA 1543 will NOT sound like anything else. Those chips, with minimal filtering, have a rich and wonderful sound to them. A quick comparison reveals a HUGE difference with almost anything you put next to it.

[E-Stat]

But the argument is especially irrelevant today, what with the CD format nearing its end

Only when you limit the discussion to transports. I find that a Pioneer Elite changer does a good enough job of performing those duties in the vintage system. Music servers still require a DAC and an analog stage to drive amplifiers. It is there where I find the largest audible differences. Indeed, newer isn't necessarily better. I use a 15 year old Manley that uses an 18 bit DAC and a triode tube output (in lieu of twenty-five cent op amps) with analog gain controls that drives the Threshold amp directly - obviating the need for yet another stage (preamp) in the signal path. Simple can be better.



rw

[hifitommy]

i wouldnt hesitate to use tht manley. i fondly remember my firiend's cal sigma. tremendous imaging.

boy, i hope CD doesnt go away as fast as LP has. oh WAIT, vinyl is still with us. hmmmm, you dont SUPPOSE there will be a rbcd renaissance?