I have the DV-981HD and a MyDac and the MyDac made the sound about 100% better. I was a bit surprised at how much richer and smoother it made the sound.
can't speak for the other unit
mine is in a second system in a cabin in the mountains so didnt want high end hifi :)
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An old CD player has a $50 dac built into it with old technology. So long as they have a digital out to sent to a new DAC, they will work ok for a transport.
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the jvc is a great unit with a very tubelike sound--i'm kicking myself for selling mine. i'd surmise the mydac will be much more resolving and detailed; whether it sounds "better" is of course purely subjective.
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I do not recommend old CD players. Lasers have a limited life and the loading mechanisms can be failure prone with no replacements available. Buy a modern new player, there are good ones in every price range.
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I tend to agree with @russ69 , but if you do go for one you listed, the JVC is a better bet, at least JVC is still in business. And yes, as @carlsbad says, make sure you can use your outboard DAC in any case.
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Some of the older CD players sounded great. I’ve not heard this JVC model but I did have a 16 bit Rotel RCD855 and it was very warm and nice sounding. Believe it or not, I liked the 855 better than a Cambridge Audio Azur 840C. The Azur was too analytical (in non balanced mode - didn’t have the option to hear it with XLRs). I also had the Oppo DV970 for many years as well. I think you have 2 very decent players here, don’t be surprised if the older technology is to your liking….
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I had the JVC years ago, and for its time it was a very smooth sounding player compared to others in its class, but if strong dynamics are a priority you will be disappointed.
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Thanks to everyone with your great tips and suggestions! I'll likely stick with the JVC as I only listen to CDs occasionally these days, as 98% of my CD and LP collection has been digitized and played through my streamer.
Thanks again!
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An excellent vintage CD player would be the Sony SCD-777ES. However, as @russ69 mentioned, the older players often have parts problems. In fact, I sold my SCD-777ES because it needed a small part that was no longer available (although the unit functioned well). I replaced it with a new Denafrips Avatar CD transport – which I’m extremely happy with.
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My modified Sony SCD-1 still brings a big smile when I play it. Usually with SACD's which mostly still sound great. I think my very best listening session is with my SCD-1 playing the SACD of Dark Side of the Moon.
I have 3 streamers setup using FibreOptical. The SCD-1 is not like those, but it has its own charms.
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it has been a long while since i have searched for a new integrated cd player -- i have modwright’s modded units with tube output stage and outboard ps with tube rectification (actually two of them - one a marantz 8005 and the other a sony dvd 5400), then i have an even older scd-777es with warren gregoire’s vsei level 5 mods
they were the most musical and beautiful sounding cdp’s back then, and i feel pretty confident they remain unsurpassed presently for their musicality in the under five figures price range (i had esoterics, pioneer elite, meridian 508-24 etc etc ... the modwrights and sony were superior...)
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+1 warren gregoire’s vsei level 5 mods
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i use my old Oppo 103 as a transport via coax into a Denafrips Ares 2 DAC. great. Denafrips now has a dealer in Thailand.
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If you get a robust transport like the Meridian 200, with Phillips mechanism, you will find it very reliable and sounds great. The Meridian 263 delta sigma DAC also sounds good, but you can experiment with new DAC's to find the sound that suits your taste.
I have the above combo that I purchased in 1995 and used for over 25 years, until I upgraded to a higher level audio system. I have kept my Meridian 200 / 263 in case of need.
Hope this experienced reply helps?
ATB,
BP
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Anyone have an opinion on my
calif audio lab ikon mark Ii CDplayer with BOSS up grade?
should I keep it?
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California Audio CD Ikon Mark Ii is my CD player
Has analog and digital (18 bit) output
works very well
keep or sell for new??
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I had that exact cal player years ago. I would say it was my first true hi-fi cd player. They were built like tanks and the fellow I sold it to still has it and uses it regularly. For what you can get for it I would keep it. Likely lucky to sell for a hundred dollars. Not worth selling at this point.
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Thx
presently my listening is via Qobuz
internet transmission is not great
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Old cd players for the price can sound good and last a long time. Don't worry about the laser. Think old marsntz cd-94
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The rega cdps are also a good value
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Think I’ll hold on to the California Audio Lab CD
player
to be honest the loudness level of the bilateral tinnitus is so high that any improvement in audio quality is not even noticeable!
now my audio gear is more of a tinnitus masker than a source of acoustic enjoyment.
I had a bunch of v high end separates ( Boulder , Quad, McIntosh, Belles, AR, etc etc )!that are all gone because of the tinnitus!
All tube gear gone too!
I would like a new integrated amp and trade the Rotel A-14 but not sure if it would matter?????
any integrated amp suggestions?
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When I read the OP's request for an "old CD player" for an "old guy" I was motivated to do a Google search. Using the key words: "CD player", "very large buttons", "large, bright display", "oversized door (for "error correction" when sloppily placing CDs in the tray -- perhaps even have a feature that flips the CD over when placed in the draw upside down?", and response above 4k optional (we can't hear above that frequency), I was directed to the Fisher Price website.
But, seriously, I think the old Sonys were wonderful players, and for "newer old players" the Marantz CD80005 is one of my favorites.
But, I did get a chuckle to OPPO being referenced as an "old player". This would be like a first generation Tesla referred to as a "vintage automobile." Guess I'm showing my age here?
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Glad to see so many positive comments about the old Sony CD players. At the suggestion of a friend I recently picked up a Sony SCD-777ES player and have been amazed at the beauty of the sound, even red book CDs.
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A used Esoteric cd1 is a great CD player and uses no’s Multibit dacs ,
polder Accuphase is another used gem.
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@larryro2
Definitely keep that Cal Icon II.
Great old player, very well built!
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Look into a used UDP player.
Pioneer elite dv-58av — or a pioneer elite dv-79avi
even the dv-48avi is sublime.
We have all three,had for years, still work perfect
We bought region free players, will play any cd,dvd,dvd audio,sacd, etc etc
tje,little dv48,can be had,for,a song if you look for a good one.
I lucked out, found the,dv-79avi used in,silver, as most of my,components are silver.
Had black stereos since I was 14, plus the,silver looks so much better.
the dv-58av and the,dv-48 were bought new at a,shop by me which switches them to all region. Great when we can buy UK dvds’, which we,like a lot of UK shows, and,buy dvds’ anywhere, these bada$$ players are,amazing.
The,79avi is one of the best,sounding,cd players we have,ever heard. Music sounds like it’s played in a stadium, music envelops your ears,and is airy, and just right, like the third. Little bear.
im looking for another dv-58av, for the basement rig. The aging Sherwood changer is starting to close by itself, will never trash it, My good friend, Asit, GAVE it to me, I have him a 21 year single malt Bushmills. He passed away not too long after we swapped Christmas presents.best man at my wedding,, and my,room mate at military school for a year,..even flew out t AZ, to be my best man, as we had 2 receptions, one for our family and one for my wife’s family in AZ.
way off track,
look for the pioneer,elite dev series, they are great!
happy hunting
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find yourself a nice ARCAM CD37!!!!! you will be very happy w/it.
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I am the CEC distributor for the America's. I suggest you read the Marc Phillips recent review of DA5 and TL5 at Part Time Audiophile.
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ANY Esoteric transport cd is RIGHT ON !
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I use a TEAC PD-600 well rated, solid, no frills unit. If you want to play cd’s this unit Pales many others of considerably higher MSRP.
Cheers
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I'm not sure I'd go for an "old" CD player, unless the price was the main driver for the purchase. An "old" unit would not only have hours on the parts that fail, it would also have an old DAC, something that's been greatly improved over time.
In my experience, the thing that needs repair on CD players is the mechanical disk handling part. I've had to have that part fail in a Yamaha CD player and an NAD Masters Series SACD player, and in the case of the Yamaha, the repair cost was very close to the full list price, so I declined that repair.
Oppo got out of the CD/SACD business, hence I upgraded my PS Audio transport to the new model which uses the part from D+M (Denon & Marantz), which (hopefully) will be available in the future.
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ejr1953
I own both of the players mentioned in my original post (JVC XLZ1050TN & Oppo 980H). I was just looking for recommendations as to which one will sound better in an all-audio environment.
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If you already have both of these players, can’t you just do your own comparisons and decide?
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