Thinking about a new, lower end CD Player
jafant, Nothing esoteric (not even Esoteric). Luxman 505UX amplifier, Luxman-D-05U CD player, SONY HAP-Z1ES digital player/server, Revel Performa3 F208. Also, rarely used but most beloved, many decades old Technics SL-Q2 turntable with a few months old Soundsmith Otello cartridge. Rarely connected, but available, Sansui TU-717 tuner and Nakamichi CR-1A cassette player. |
jafant, I bought Luxman D-05U. I still buy CDs and do not download from websites (I did one album just to check how it goes) but put them on a server so I have almost no use for CD part of my new player. At the same time as buying a player, I ripped all my SACDs, and a few DVD-As that I have (along with transferring some records), so I have almost no use for SACD part of my new player either. I tried 4-5 discs so far. It ends up serving as a DAC, once I stretch my arm to turn it on which is not that often (the on/off is on the back). I just like to have a functioning machine in a dinosaur approach "just in case everything else fails". I picked this particular one because it can be operated by my amplifier's remote control, if the need be, and I like the way it looks. I know, I have a very non-audiophile approach and do not obsess with minutia of sound improvement but it is what it is. Nobody can say I did not match my components carefully. It is just that I did not match them the way it is usually thought of. On the other hand, it all works fine and I have no complaint about the sound. |
uberwaltz, well, in case you change your mind... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9897j-technics-1520-reel-to-reel |
jafant, I have not checked with Denon, but, a couple of weeks ago, I did look up videos about replacing the drive on the Internet and looked for parts on eBay, They are available used so who knows what they would end up being. There were no new ones I could see at that moment which may indicate that Denon quit supplying them. Another observation from eBay was that a number of players were advertised as "not playing CD" or SACD, or whatever else. Quick Google search for "Denon 2910 CD not playing" (or something similar to that) brought a lots of comments telling me I am not the only one. Hence my previous post. I would stay away from buying those players these days, unless they are cheap enough not to be disappointed with failure. I wonder if modding operations are gone simply because the market for it has shrunk as people have gradually moved on to less physical formats. There is probably only a handful of us who have these Denons sitting around and have not tossed them yet. I recently bought a CD (SACD, in fact) player and everyone I tell it to asks me "who still buys CD players these days?" I guess, n80 and me. |
"There were a lot of good Denon BluRay, DVD CD players that sounded real good for CDs. Denon DVD-2500BTCI, DENON DVD-3910 DENON DVD-5910..."As much as the sound of Denon x910 series was unexpectedly good, they were prone to laser failures. At least 2910 and 3910 might have had the same assembly but I am not sure. "Prone to laser failures" for the most part translates into "count on it". Mine failed CDs but has continued just fine with SACDs, DVD-A, DVD-V, and video discs of some sort. Basically, isolated CD failure. It was almost ten years old when it happened. In case you are considering one of those, check with all the disc formats you may be interested in and not just a CD and consider it operable. |
"Now, you’re probably going to take this the wrong way, but it seems to me you don’t know much of anything."So far, it seems that you are the clueless one. When I do not know, I ask. You claim and it is so wrong that it is sad. Many of us feel pity for you. It is not a shame to ask, it is a shame not to know and be "all-knowing" and insulting others. I apologize if my questions make you feel uncomfortable. If you knew answers to them you would not feel this way about them. If you were at least capable of understanding any of the questions, it would already be a milestone. But...refer to the first sentence and try to learn. Even if it is about naming portable CD players. Simple and unimportant stuff that you could even grasp. You may not remember, but I do have WM FS-499 and D-421SP in a perfectly good condition. For whatever it is worth, I know how they sound. Better than expected, for sure. Far from great, though. When I get a chance, I will try connecting my Discman to amplifier. I admit I never tried that. I am curious how it is. I can tell you that portable Mini-Disc is crappy. |
geoffkait, "I don’t remember who brought up the Discman and frankly I don’t care."You brought it all up. You even brought your preference for a cassette Walkman to the thread of a person asking for suggestions about a basic CD player. "I know you are but what am I?"Once I find the topic you can hold your ground on, I will let you know. So far, no luck but I am keeping some hope. Nobody can be inept at everything. |
geoffkait, I really did not mean to reveal your lack of knowledge, wrong impression as you said, but you should be a little more polite. That knowledge is really useless, but, once you insist on claiming something so obviously wrong, I have to say it. You are clueless which is not that bad. Not being able to accept and think of corrections is bad. It makes you a worthless discussion participant. No, Discman was not inherently for the car. CAR Discman was marketed more for that as a way to attract more buyers who did not have a CD player in the car. In fact, at least early, advertisements did not have cars regularly in the picture. It was skateboards, park benches, many other things, but cars came a little later. I am not even sure if Walkman was ever marketed "for walking", but I will give you a pass on that one, just because of the name. I still do not know what "troll" here means, but I did pass by The Troll Shop yesterday and the first thing I thought of was....you. I am serious. Isn't it bad when your name becomes so closely associated with the word that you consider as something insulting? Find a PR expert, you need it. |
geoffkait, Here, a few pictures... https://www.google.com/search?q=car+discman&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik0... As you can see, I have no questions for you. Only some pieces of information you could use next time you want to be an expert on things you are not that good with. |
geoffkait, I do not blame you for being less-than-informed about SONY portable electronics nomenclature. It was a long time ago that they produced these things. Most of the Discmen were actually not made specifically for a car. Those for the car usually had red CAR letters on them, came with a car kit, and were somewhat bulkier. Not that you could not use any Discman in the car, but these were marketed that way. uberwaltz, Is there any way you could find out what model you have or when it was produced? If I remember correctly, they switched from Discman to CD Walkman later in the game, maybe late 1990s? Not that it changes anything but I am as curious about it now as I was when Discman was an almost-unattainable dream for me. |
When referring to "SONY Walkman" are you guys talking about Walkman or Discman? Is it about cassette or CD players? geoffkait did explain his, but I am not clear about others. Also, those portable CD players did not have digital outputs that often so how are you connecting it to anything? Through headphone output or, maybe, dedicated "line out"? Some SONY Walkmen (cassette) had a problem with that thin orangey-colored film connecting sides. After repeated opening and closing, it would break and there would be no contact anymore. Sports models were particularly prone to it. As a result, screen would not work or, those that had soft-touch buttons (not Sports) even all commands would die. |
Durability-wise, I doubt you will get a different transport between those, and that is what breaks (along with laser) so it should not be much different. Maybe once you go into some much higher price-ranges and even then who knows. I forgot the number, but there are only so many makers of CD transports. Some years ago even Philips exited and they were the staple among many brands. Some brands make their own but I doubt those are $300-500-700 players. Soundwise, check specs and what DAC chip they use. for the biggest difference. Remainder seems to be smaller increments. Maybe, once you see the pattern in DACs and price, you could even pick the cheapest one with that better DAC. I feel that more expensive models, even in your price range, may feel to be better built. Sturdier. I am sure it is supposed to be better for sound but have no real idea. Or, why change the team that is winning? There is one just like yours on eBay. And then, of course, you can always buy a $300 player, add a $225 fuse and end up with a $15 000 player sound. At least that is what the rumor is. |
With Arcam/DAC combination being a possibility, it seems that your main problem has become this cheap, second system, player. That is easy. Anything used. If you are not picky, I am sure someone could donate one. You could also grab some new DVD player and be barely above the price of McDonald's family outing, if that much. Not the state of the audiophile art, but some may surprise you. Just make sure it has all the outputs you want. They frequently do not even have RCAs. Otherwise, for a new one anything already recommended (NAD, Marantz, Denon). It is not impossible that your Arcam has a SONY transport. At least at some point they used them. |
