Help with new cd player?

[madmax1]

I'm looking for a new cd player? Should i invest into SCAD? Only wanting to spend about$100 to $200. Sorry if this is the wrong area to put this post.

[N. Abstentia]

If you have the connectivity needed for SACD then definitely go for it. But get a unit that also plays DVD-A.

[hershon]

I'm looking for a new cd player? Should i invest into SCAD? Only wanting to spend about$100 to $200. Sorry if this is the wrong area to put this post.

Again, you get what you pay for. You want to take a shortcut and buy low, it'll cost you more in the end. I recommend you either get a good DVD player that at least has DVD-A (I just bought a Harmon Kardon 31 DVD player that you can get for $250 new with shipping online-it retails for $350, and the CD sound as well as DVD sound & picture are fantastic) or get a good Universal Player that will play DVD-A, SACD & DVD's. For me, I'm not really interested in DVD-A's or SACD, so just the DVD-A option suffices for me. Make sure whatever you do has a DAC of 192/24 bits.

PS

Make sure you have a decent receiver.

[madmax1]

I'm running a yamaha 2400 receiver. What is the diff between the two formats? Plus i was in best buy on Sunday and can't find any SCAD or DVD-A??

[hershon]

I'm running a yamaha 2400 receiver. What is the diff between the two formats? Plus i was in best buy on Sunday and can't find any SCAD or DVD-A??

I'm far from an expert but there aren't that many DVD-As or SACD's out there and there are more SACDs then DVD-A's & quite a few of them I bought were mediocore. Here's the thing, if you're not planning to get these (basically CD's with 5 distinct channels plus) then that shouldn't be a factor. However, as a general rule, yes there are exceptions, usually DVD players with at least DVD-A technology are more technologically advanced then those that aren't the same as receivers with 7 .1 sound as opposed to 5.1 sound, even if you're not going to use this. Again, make sure whatever you get has a DAC of 192/24.

[anamorphic96]

I'm far from an expert but there aren't that many DVD-A or SACD out there and there are more SACDs then DVD-A's & quite a few of them I bought were mediocore. Here's the thing, if you're not planning to get these (basically CD's with 5 distinct channels plus) then that shouldn't be a factor. However, as a general rules, yes there are exceptions, usually DVD players with at least DVD-A technology are more technologically advanced then those that aren't the same as receivers with 7 .1 sound as opposed to 5.1 sound, even if you're not going to use this. Again, make sure whatever you get has a DAC of 192/24.

There are thousands of SACD's and DVD A's on the market. Both use higher sampling rates to get more resolution out of the recording. Both use multi channel surround as well by using the analogue outputs from the DVD/SACD player going into the multi channel inputs on your 2400. Both can be used in 2 channel as well to get a higher resolution as well. Unless youre into investing in another format it might be best to stick with regular cd.

Since all cd players at this price pretty much sound the same. Integra makes a great cd changer for 199 that has 3 year warranty and great build quality. http://www.integrahometheater.com/

If youre willing to step up to 300 you can start looking at the Marantz CD5400, NAD C521BEE, or the Cambridge Audio 540C.



Hershon your not even using the 24/192 capability on your DVD player since your using the digital output. So why does he need this ? Especially if he sticks with DVD CD. The statement regarding the 24 bit/192 khz is false if your not using DVD-A. Besides having this feature is no big deal. Even cheap units have this. It has nothing to do with your unit being more advanced.

On another note SACD uses DSD and not 24/192 DAC's. So this format would be using a different DAC.

[hershon]

In reference to anamorphic, all I know is the Harmon Kardon 31 DVD player I have produces the best CD (as well as DVD) sound I've ever heard- what that is attributed to I can't technologically define- in fact nothing personal & I'm speaking in generalities so if I missed someone that was an oversight, no one on this board or at any high end store I've been too or on any other board, has yet to specifically spell out other than a DAC what can make one DVD/CD/Universal player sound better than another if everything else is equal (i.e. same receiver, cables, CD, settings). I'm assuming by process of elimination its the DAC (I connect and prefer optic fiber on a digital connection) but I can't say that with certainty. As far as the other brands like the Marantz CD540 when I connected it (both digitally and by analogue to my old JVC receiver) it suckked (maybe it would sound better on my Denon 3801, I don't know). I also tried a Cambridge Audio Azur 640C which I think is one step higher than the CD player you recommended, and there wasn't much noticeable difference in sound between the $350 listed Harmon Kardon & the $529 listed Cambridge Audio, at least not enough difference to merit me keeping both. This might be personal taste, I'm not disputing that. As to DVD-A's and SACD's, based on my personal experience which is different than anamorphic, when I go into Tower Records there is not a big selection of either of these though there's about twice as many SACD's to DVD-A's there. Perhaps thousands are available online but not in stores.

There are thousands of SACD's and DVD A's on the market. Both use higher sampling rates to get more resolution out of the recording. Both use multi channel surround as well by using the analogue outputs from the DVD/SACD player going into the multi channel inputs on your 2400. Both can be used in 2 channel as well to get a higher resolution as well. Unless youre into investing in another format it might be best to stick with regular cd.

Since all cd players at this price pretty much sound the same. Integra makes a great cd changer for 199 that has 3 year warranty and great build quality. http://www.integrahometheater.com/

If youre willing to step up to 300 you can start looking at the Marantz CD5400, NAD C521BEE, or the Cambridge Audio 540C.



Hershon your not even using the 24/192 capability on your DVD player since your using the digital output. So why does he need this ? Especially if he sticks with DVD CD. The statement regarding the 24 bit/192 khz is false if your not using DVD-A. Besides having this feature is no big deal. Even cheap units have this. It has nothing to do with your unit being more advanced.

On another note SACD uses DSD and not 24/192 DAC's. So this format would be using a different DAC.

[LEAFS264]

Hershon "I'm far from an expert " Is the most honest thing i've ever seen you post.
And the "Here's the thing, if you're not planning to get these (basically CD's with 5 distinct channels plus) then that shouldn't be a factor" Just makes me want to kill some one!!! People like you are one of the big reasons why this great high rez sound is going to die a slow death. You DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT IT, yet give advice to others about how it is just cd sound through 5 channels. AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
I give up!
Oh, and that post of yours about the " does blocking the heat vents on my Receiver matter" . I think you just post this crap because you have nothing better to do. That post....even a person who REALLY doesn't know anything about hometheater,would not ask a moronic question like that.
Reading your garbage is really starting to piss me off.

[hershon]

I shouldn't even bother to address you as you are so low on the food chain you're not worthy of even contempt. Genious (which in your case means you have a 2020 IQ), I never gave any misleading info about your precious DVD-A's, SACD's- get a life boy or better yet a job & I'm not talking Richard Simmonds here, sorry. I just said for me personally I'm not overall impressed with DVD-A's or SACD's at this point and if someone else isn't, it shouldn't be a factor in buying decisions. Again, snorklehead, to quote the great Mickey Rivers, what part of this do you not understand? If you like these discs, good for you, I don't care. Let the other people make up their own decisions for themselves. Its called free will a concept you probably never heard of. So if I don't love them, despite the fact that you say I should love them, tough. Excuse me for not knowing the technology behind this. As far as my question on the vents, again I appologize for not asking your permission, I've done things like that previously and it didn't affect anything, but this time my equipment is more expensive so I'll ask. If you think the answer is so obvious, then have you or anyone here on this board, actually messed up their system from first hand experience by doing this? I'm betting no one will say this but I will take their advice anyway. This is my last comment addressing you as I'm not into swatting mosquetos.

Hershon "I'm far from an expert " Is the most honest thing i've ever seen you post.
And the "Here's the thing, if you're not planning to get these (basically CD's with 5 distinct channels plus) then that shouldn't be a factor" Just makes me want to kill some one!!! People like you are one of the big reasons why this great high rez sound is going to die a slow death. You DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT IT, yet give advice to others about how it is just cd sound through 5 channels. AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
I give up!
Oh, and that post of yours about the " does blocking the heat vents on my Receiver matter" . I think you just post this crap because you have nothing better to do. That post....even a person who REALLY doesn't know anything about hometheater,would not ask a moronic question like that.
Reading your garbage is really starting to piss me off.

[noddin0ff]

I'm looking for a new cd player? Should i invest into SCAD? Only wanting to spend about$100 to $200. Sorry if this is the wrong area to put this post.

Madmax, Looking at your setup, you likely can hear the difference of SACD. In addition to multichannel which is obvious, there is often a high-res stereo track that will be superior to CD for the critical listener. I don't have too many SACDs. Dark Side of the Moon is cool in multi-channel, but I don't get to sit still long enough to surround myself. Last I looked, (which was a while ago) there weren't too many low-cost options with both DVD-A and SACD. The two formats are still competing in the market place. My previous player was DVD-A, not SACD; I still have disks I can't listen to. I went with Philips DVD795SA (~$150). It doesn't play DVD-A. If I had to do it again I'd go for a more expensive player ($200-300). The sound is fine but the operation is cumbersome and it won't recognize SACD until I start another disk first (odd and annoying). SACD playback isn't that costly anymore compared to a player with out it. Find a player you like to operate and it will likely have SACD. I would stress operation ease. Once you start adding capabilities, you start adding menus and buttons. Having to navigate the remote to play SACD detracts from my experience. I think a well designed interface is worth a little more $.