Vintage CDPs, or DACs & DVD/CDPs, or modern CDPs?

[thedelihaus]

Okay, fellas, which way do you swing on this?

Do you go for the vintage CD players, and stock up on them? They can usually be picked up for $5 to $50 (unless on the 'Bay, then it could be up to $200 or more) Many are built like tanks and are quite robust, but have older chipsets that are considered by some/many to be antiquated and out-dated, and many agree are plagued by the inevitable failure of aging lasers and motors that are most likely on borrowed time? parts can be "unobtanium", or if attainable, they can be quite pricey.

Or do you go for a DVD player or cheap CD player with optical or co-axial digital out, bypass the internal chips, and pick up an external D/A converter? A DAC, which can easily cost thousands, but if you're a smart shopper, you can get one for $100 to $350. This is a significant cost increase, but it seems like one will most often benefit from improved sound fairly easily. Some fear problems with jitter, though not so much on this board. An older affordable DAC will be dated, chipset-wise, and some of the affordable models like the Entech units are, although great sounding and with more modern chipsets, not always built as solid as the older units.

Or do you save your pennies, and pick up a modern DVD/CD player with nice reviews and ratings for Redbook playback, like the approx. $200 Oppo units or the $380 Cambridge Audio units? Yes, they can be a bit pricey, but you've got a modern unit, with warranty, and hopefully less chance of a failure or lack of longetivity.

What is it, boys?

[thedelihaus]

I admit I hoard vintage players.

But at an average cost of $50, by the time I'll grab a spare, or two, and maybe a NOS laser, I'm potentially spending around $200-$250. For vintage gear that has no guarantee on how long it will last, and arguably "dated" chipsets and subsequent sound.

I'm starting to think, for $100, an Entech plugged into a $5 yardsale find or $50 cheapo DVD player is a smart move- For around $150 to $200, redbook sound coming through a modern-chipped DAC may be the smarter move. Maybe.

and possibly even wiser, for $200, a new Oppo DVD/CD player, which gets lots of positive reviews, looks really good. Or for $380, a new Cambridge audio looks hard to beat- with remote control, a stunning aluminum face, and an excellent review by many a Redbook fan. I'd save $50 from my vintage CD player spending going with the Oppo, or spend $130 to $180 more for the Cambridge, but I doubt the cambridge would leave me wanting for anything "more".

Unless I could afford a $1000+++ DAC. Which I cannot.

[nickrobotron]

I think the one I need to choose is the CD/DVD with a vintage DAC, but I don't know what a DAC is...

[thedelihaus]

I think the one I need to choose is the CD/DVD with a vintage DAC, but I don't know what a DAC is...

DAC = Digital to analogue Converter, or D/A converter.

"Converts" the digital information into an analogue signal to be played through your receiver/pre-amp/integrated amps' RCA-in jacks.

A CD player has digital to analogue conversion going on inside the unit- what a DAC is supposed to do, is improve on what many CD players came stock with. The goal is to open up the soundstage, supply a better presentation of the music, clearer resolutuon, more detail, ect...

If you have a CD player or DVD player with an optical digital out, or a coaxial digital out, you can connect it to a DAC for, hopefully, a nicer, fuller, richer sound.

External DACs are good, but some folk argue a $380 to $650 Cambridge Audio CD player's built in DAC is excellent sounding.

Bargain DACs start around $100, and used vintage DACs around $200 and up.

New DACs can cost thousands of dollars- sometimes many thousands.

[nickrobotron]

Man, I hate this hobby.

[sleddogman]

Not sure how to vote. What do I check for a Carver SD/A 490t tube deck and a Marantz PMD 325 with a Number Cruncher 205.2 DAC?

[Danger Boy]

you missed one vote that is my category.

i scour for older CD players like NAD then use a DAC with it. till it dies.. then just buy another $25 player with a digital output. yeah, it's not up to par with today's awesome players.. but it sounds good.. but you also have to realize that it could crap out at any time.. but then i'm only out a few bucks.

a DAC is key to owning an CDP... esp if it's entry or mid level one

I wish i could afford a really nice $1000 Shanling tube CDP or the like.

[JimJ[VT]]

Modern all the way.

[basite]

digital mediums are 'evolving' constantly and very quickly, so all new for me.

and that doesn't mean i'll go cheap...

and you forgot an option, vintage transport/cdp and modern dac...

[OvenMaster]

None of the above.
I have a CD player from 1996, I'll try to keep it going, but when it does die I'll have to get a DVD player because standalone CD players now cost too much.
Tom

[CarlV]

For critical listening in my main rig I use the best newest I can afford. Good modern units can't be beat for SQ. Older high end for the others, they are much less expensive and sound better, smoother than current cheapie cd/dvd options.


Carl

[thedelihaus]

Not sure how to vote. What do I check for a Carver SD/A 490t tube deck and a Marantz PMD 325 with a Number Cruncher 205.2 DAC?

Which do you like better?

[barrynsue]

Just picked up a McIntosh MCD-7009 last night that sounds pretty good to me but at $500.00, I'm not sure it is a bargain player but it matched nicely with my C-2200. I was using a MCD-7000 that works beautifully but had heard the 7009 was a good player.

From my understanding, parts are still available so I am not too worried but I do know many who buy $5-10 thrift store/yard sale cdp's as they figure it is inexpensive and disposable if they go bad (not that there's anything wrong with that).:D

Barry

[thedelihaus]

you missed one vote that is my category.

i scour for older CD players like NAD then use a DAC with it. till it dies.. then just buy another $25 player with a digital output...

...and you forgot an option, vintage transport/cdp and modern dac...

I'm aiming at keeping this poll at a combo of gear that runs low in price- shoting for the $150 to $500 price range. That's why I didn't include many modern DACs (at $1000 or so) or high end CD players.:thmbsp:

Fellas, if you're running a vintage CD player with a DAC, vote for choice two, the cheapo cd player/Dac combo.

Some of the cheapo dvd players that are new only last 6 months to two or three years if you're lucky. I expect the same lifespan out of the vintage models at the age many are at. And since vintage models are picked up at yard sales for cheap, usually $50 or under, the second choice in the poll should work just fine.

[ponderbear]

i've got a single-player yamaha (cdx-530) that i bought new in 1990. I'm still using it. i've never heard a CD player that's made me want to change.

I've been tempted to go to just vinyl/FM/itunes, because they account for about 90% of my listening nowadays, but i have WAY too many CDs to seriously consider that.

[AlleyKat]

I use a Panasonic DVD/CD, 5 disc changer. The sound was so bad that I really only had it for DVD playback and CD's for the wife. I relied solely upon my vinyl collection for listening as I just didn't think CD sound could ever meet my audio needs. Then, I had the great opportunity to visit RichPA and listen to his digital system:ntwrthy: and learned what CD's could sound like. I started looking into upgrading my digital sources, bidding low on high end players in the quest for a BOLLY. I happened upon the Entech 203.2 DAC and thought $50 was a risk I could afford to take. The DAC made an incredible difference in the audio quality of the DVD/CD player. Since that time I purchased a Roku Soundbrige, which also runs through the DAC (factory analog outputs leave a GREAT deal to be desired). The combination of DVD/CD player & DAC has worked out great for me:music:!

[the-real-mandak]

;1260552']Modern all the way.

Hmm... The technology was developed in the late 70's and marketed early 80’s; the DAC's has developed since but regarding CD's properly not since late 90's. Modern hmm... :scratch2: :)

[JimJ[VT]]

Hmm... The technology was developed in the late 70's and marketed early 80’s; the DAC's has developed since but regarding CD's properly not since late 90's. Modern hmm... :scratch2: :)

Well, modern as being within the last ten years :)

I don't believe in buying something cheap just to replace it when it breaks...I'd rather get a newer Rotel, NAD, Arcam or something that will last me as long as I want to keep it, or until I get tired of it and want to upgrade.

All kind of academic for me anyway, as 99% of my digital listening is done with FLAC off the laptop :)

[Eric Clark]

Yamaha CDX-XXXX players have worked for me. If I had the money I'd buy new but I cannot afford one that is built as well as the old CDX-XXXX line.



BTW- Paul, what are you using as you rmain CDP now?

[Yamaha1]

Yamaha CDX-XXXX players have worked for me. If I had the money I'd buy new but I cannot afford one that is built as well as the old CDX-XXXX line.



BTW- Paul, what are you using as you rmain CDP now?


Nope, sadly, Yamaha doesn't make their tanks anymore, they do offer the SACD player and I have that as well but its' a far cry from their previous pure CD only offerings.

[sleddogman]

Not sure how to vote. What do I check for a Carver SD/A 490t tube deck and a Marantz PMD 325 with a Number Cruncher 205.2 DAC?

Which do you like better?
The Marantz Professional series decks have very nice transports, but overall, I tend to prefer the Carver. Those tubes just make listening to a wide variety of music a lot less fatiguing. The Soft EQ is especially nice for first generation CDs.

[Eric Clark]

Nope, sadly, Yamaha doesn't make their tanks anymore, they do offer the SACD player and I have that as well but its' a far cry from their previous pure CD only offerings.

Yep, we have to go elsewhere for it now.

[avionic]

I like my Nakamichi's I now have 3 fully functional OMS-4's and a OMS-7

[Mark B]

I'm very happy with my vintage Yamaha CD players. I think they compare favorably to my vinyl rig.

[Yamaha1]

I'm very happy with my vintage Yamaha CD players. I think they compare favorably to my vinyl rig.


:tresbon:

Fully agreed, actually I impressed a die hard vinyl only friend of mine, this guy is a pure vinyl freak, has a Lafayette and Grado and has a collection of almost 3000 LPs, I invited him over and he was truly bowled over by the soft sweet sound from the Yamaha CDP.

[thedelihaus]

Yamaha CDX-XXXX players have worked for me. If I had the money I'd buy new but I cannot afford one that is built as well as the old CDX-XXXX line.



BTW- Paul, what are you using as you rmain CDP now?

Eric,

I raffled off the Yamaha CD-x1 I was listening to. It's sad to see it go.

I've got two problematic Sony CDP 308ESD models, both need repair. A Denon DCD 1500 II that needs repair. Three Sony C75ES changers, that need a bit of attention.

My low-end CD players, a Sony CDP-491 and a Teac (forget the model) are the only two that work properly right now. Go figure.

Oh, that Yamaha 5-disc changer I mentioned to you was fed a handfull of coins and cardboard index cards by mt friend's 3 year old. Did a number on it.

And my Mitsubishi 5 disc cartridge changer pooped the bed last week as well.

Ugh.