Any recommendation for a CD changer?


I have an Aiwa modded by Stan Warren. Unfortunately cats finally tore up the optical cable from the CDP to my DAC. Unless someone has an idea where to get the parts for the cable or to find the cable itself I'll probably need the new CDP. Thanks. 

bobby_phischer

Don't know offhand of any companies still making cd changers versus one disc players which are available

Yeah, used would be fine. I'll probably just look thrift stores and Goodwil for one. 

Looks like your cats do prefer a single unit instead of digital separates

This one caught my attention as I love changer convenience as well.

 

Just stop.  Stop with the CD changer that’s like 30 years old technology.  Just get something like this, load all your CDs into it and be done with it.  And if it gets you into streaming eventually so much the better.  

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650041804-innuos-zen-mk3-streamer-black-roon-server/

I am not understanding.  Your cats chewed an optical cable.  Can’t you just get a new toslink cable?

It's not toslink nor coax. It's Stan Warren's proprietary digital cable. With the 2.1mm micro jack ...with two wires connected to Led light. Can't find that part, otherwise I'd solder it myself. 

Onkyo is the only brand (that I am aware of) that still makes a CD changer.

If you want to shop used, you can pick up a Sony ES changer off Ebay for dirt cheap. They're pretty much bulletproof.

 

you can find an integra cdc cheaply on ebay--reliable and sounds pretty good. sony es was also a good suggestion.

Is the cable hardwired to the changer, or does it plug in?

If hardwired desolder the complete cable/LED(S) and send the whole thing to someone for a rebuild.

If it plugs in do the same.

 

DeKay

Onkyo has been making the DXC-360 a long time...I have one, and a few years ago bought a new Integra 3.4 , Onkyo’s upscale version...both play great, are reliable, and sound quite good run through an outboard DAC...fun to have around, and cheap enough that it is not a choice between streaming or a multi disc...sometimes it’s easier to load the multi disc player

It's a cable with the jack at one end and toslink led at the other. I have no idea how it works. Never saw toslink connector wired with copper wires - this must be only a led light. I called someone in Eugene OR Stan is retired now. If there is a way to post pictures on this forum I would. Thanks man!

 

 

Lol soix, nearly every piece of equipment I have is an old technology- hell, my DAC is from 1994. :)

My cat did the same thing...ate right through my expensive Audioquest optical cable. I immediately noticed, however, that his "meooow" had a much smoother, more full-bodied sound.

They didn't chew on it. They ran right through the bundle of cables when they were chasing each other behind the rack. Unfortunately I don't have any sound now smooth or otherwise right now.  But I am shocked it lasted this long. Over twenty years...until I introduced the new kitten, that likes to play a lot. 

Nakamichi MB10.  I’ve had one - modded - for 22(ish) years.  Doesn’t get a lot of use anymore, but still works.  The unusual vertical stacking mechanism (“MusicBank”) was licensed to McIntosh when they came out with a changer (MCD 7008). You still see them come up on ebay from time to time.

the best sony es changers, the carousel ''disk jockey's'', date back to 89-90ish. after that sony made them more plasticky. nak music banks are good, stick with the second gen and later 94-99. the third gen was actually a direct repurposing of their car audio music banks, which were good (i had one). if you don't mind commodity-grade stuff you can always find the 400-disc sony mega changers--

@bojack +1

 

I just retired as a Primary Care Physician.  I have had several patients contact me after obtaining my personal information from social media.  I’m touched, actually; I thought that I would be annoyed .

  Would it be possible to reach out to Mr Warren?  Maybe he has a workbench somewhere with some unsold cables.  He might get a kick out of hearing from an old customer.

  Otherwise pick up one of the old Sonys

I tried. The contact information isn't good anymore. I talked to the used audio store owner in Eugene, OR. He knew him and would try to help me, but I haven't heard from him back. I even sent him the photos of the cables. He told me that he (Stan) was getting "pretty old."

OP

Used: I searched got advice here, my final choice:

Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 (it has has Dual Wolfson processors). Great price, features, sound!

Crutchfield has it new for $400.

 

Check the specs of the recommended Onkyo, it might be a great sounding choice

Decided I wanted both SACD and CD, bought a used Sony xa5400, over $1,000. 

i saw numerous integra cdc 3.4 used on ebay for <$100--i personally wouldn't pay for a new one.

I use the Onkyo CX-390. in both my systems.It plays great if you have good quality recordings of course. $349. lots of features and good remote.

Here's this:  Amazon.com: YAMAHA CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer Black : Electronics

I had the Onkyo 390 mentioned above and after about 2 yrs, it was full of issues:  would just not play, the random feature wouldn't work, it would skip like crazy.  i gave it to the goodwill.   good riddance.   as mentioned above somewhere, an old sony es model will kick ass.  mine still works after about 20  years.   good luck!

I have an Integra CDC 3.4 for sale. Like new condition with remote. Im south of Boston. Will not ship . Must be picked up in person $200

Wait! Is Chicago "south of Boston?" I once had a customer service rep on the phone for 10 minutes, only to tell me that she could not find "Boston" anywhere in her New York listings, so, there ya go. I’m "south of Boston" right now! I could go get it for you, 😄 but read this first.

 

I am, now that you mention it, dealing with ye olde carousel issue, too! My first cd-player was an odd and amazing, single-play dbx [sic]. It could do magic tricks. It lasted 20 years, as did my Apt and Hafler stuff. The Snells from that time are still in use in my workshop, having been "re-rubber-ringed" twice since new in 1983. (Gawd, that numeral sequence hurts to see in print.)

I sometimes listen for hours, so a changer made sense. First came the de rigeur Yamaha. When that croaked (the display panel started ghosting me), my still-lazy self bought an Onkyo. Is it just me, or does everyone have a few favorite discs with some superficial marring that some cd-players never even notice, while others stall out, sometimes merely ticking along---one second of content every 12---then completely stopping?

I thought the move up to an Integra might be noticeable and track better. Nope. Du-udes, I’m talking "faulty" cd’s that a 14-year-old blu-ray-player has no problem with, nor does the player in my Honda!

For my b-day, I ordered myself an Arcam cd5 (don’t even!)

It wasn’t until I started using it, that I went looking for any negative buzz in forums, which brought me here. At least I found out I wasn’t too stupid to use the remote or had a defective unit. (Actually, they’re all defective, aren’t they?) Yes, it is to a cd-player what a reptile is to a mammal. This one lays eggs. Since what era could one not fast-forward or reverse a cd? How about the Devonian period. Until I read it on a forum, I thought I was just being dense; no, like, really, really dense.

Then I put in Abbey Road. Yeowie, the medley! It reads a pause in a track as a track change. First, it begins the tune. It then thinks, "Oh, crapola, I’ve erred! I must go back!" Ya, back to the last second of the previous tune, then hiccups, burps, and begins again---in the 2nd second of the new song. Truly unlistenable, unusable, and, at the moment, unforgiveable. It’s en route as we speak.

 

The bad part; it sounds (I mean, sounded) great! I A/B’d a lot of stuff I know really well. I expected some improvement over my previous players, but this was big! And it was almost across the board---a super soundstage; great distinction btwn instruments; a beautifully fat and flowing-melted-chocolate bottom, and highs that never made you feel like you do when you’ve listened to too much Joni Mitchell. Honestly, it was as if I had new speakers! I miss it, kinda.

I replaced it w/a Marantz cd60-R. That heft? It’s all potatoes w/o much meat. It’s not a county-fair-biggest-pumpkin contest. The Arcam is smaller and lighter. I am dumbfounded that it can’t track some of those same "problematic" cd’s. The Arcam sure could---all of them. Most importantly, every sonic aspect of the Marantz is, alas, outmatched by the Arcam. It was a surprise with each new disc. The Marantz couldn’t do that. It, too, will know again the cold and brutal hands of the FedEX warehouse simians.

Strike deux.

Does the Marantz sound noticeably better than the Integra changer? In short, yes, so I can’t go back, I can never go back; the changers just can’t compete.

Hey, aside from the 45-minute trips to FedEx, at least I’m shopping for all this on my duff, albeit in silence.

 I also use a CD changer. I have found and used for close to 30 years, a Denon DCM 390. I enjoy the shuffle feature for my 3000+ CDs. A new lazer was installed a few years ago at the cost of around $200. The Denon is similar to Onkyo units. One is probably made by the other with a different badge. I have also recently started using a Sony CA70ES. Both are 5 disc carousel types. For my purpose they serve me well. I enjoy using them often. OK, now all the naysayers can chime in. 

I still keep my 20 year old Rotel RCC - 1055 changer primarily for HDCD playback. It’s built like a tank and still occasionally turns up used on EBay. For my primary CD listening I use separates. I have an Audiolab CDT 6000 hooked up to a standalone Denafrips Pontus R2R ladder DAC. Unless you really need the multi-disc capability why not just get a CD transport instead of a CD player? All things equal, a dedicated CDT will outperform a CDP as a transport since you’re already using an external DAC. The CDT 6000 costs about $450 new and is widely available.

I experimented and connected regular RCA jack instead of the led. Plugged it into the coax input of my DAC and it worked!  I got some great recommendations from all of you, and maybe it's time to upgrade my transport anyway without spending too much. 

The reviews of CDT 6000 keep popping up in my YouTube feed, titled as the "last transport you'll ever need" 

The reviews of CDT 6000 keep popping up in my YouTube feed, titled as the "last transport you'll ever need" 

Why?  Why???  This is silly.  Why deal with decades-old tech that’s clearly dying?  Just buy a hard drive or an Innuos Zen Mini and just load ALL your CDs into it — not just five — and have your WHOLE MUSIC LIBRARY AVAILABLE TO YOU IN ANY ORDER YOU WISH???  Why would you just use dinosaur tech when something so superior is available now?  Or u just keep doing u. 

https://www.audioadvisor.com/inzenmi3-blk1tb

for many of us there are lots of situations where a changer and/or single disc player is the best and easiest option...

I had a Pioneer CD changer with the 6 disc cartridges. It’s about 30 years old now but still works, no problem.  I gave it to my nephew when I got my single disc transport a few years ago.  I don’t think he even uses it.  lol

@bobby_phischer if you're still interested, look at this CD-C603 CD Changer - Yamaha USA. $550 on the yamaha website, but if you wait a bit, i'm sure accessories4less will save you some money.   good luck!

bobby_phischer

 

Keep me posted as you figure out how to connect your CD changer for operation.

I would like to see pictures. Stan Warren (at one time) modded many Spinners!

 

Happy Listening!

I have a functional Onkyo changer that I am willing to let go. But due to the sudden uptick in interest, it could be very expensive. Seriously, get them ripped to HD then make one of these 

 

 

Hi rockrink, I ended up with fixing the proprietary cable by replacing the damaged optical end with the rca coax connector. So I kept Aiwa changer.