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LaRocca PPA + HD650's = Which portable CD Player??

post #1 of 33
12/4/03 at 1:41pm
Thread Starter 
"Welcome to Head-Fi. Sorry about your wallet"
How this rings so true! You guys are CRAZY.

Well I spoke with Larry at LaRocco and I am detailing my amp; the HD 650's are on order. I am going to use this setup with my iPod 3G Dock connector LINE OUT.

IF I want a small CD player (portable to sit on top of the PPA) what is the latest and greatest around?

Gregg

PS When do I get to say:
Team Sennheiser
Team LaRocco
?????????
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post #2 of 33
12/4/03 at 4:17pm
FYI, you will not get the full potential out of that system if you are gonna use any PCDP. What are you reasons for wanting PCDP over a home deck?
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post #3 of 33
12/4/03 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 
I would like a portable because I want something small to sit on my desk. Are there any small CD players out there??

Gregg
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post #4 of 33
12/4/03 at 4:53pm
Well, not exactly small, but you could get a shoebox sized regular CD separate, such as those made by Cyrus or Musical Fidelity. Not sure what the availability is like in the US though. They (of course) would be significantly more than a portable, but I'd imagine they'd go quite nicely.

It's actually the way I intend to go in the future, although I'll probably just stump up for a full sized SACD player.

Eventually
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post #5 of 33
12/4/03 at 7:03pm
If you need to stick with PCDPs... look out for a Sony D303...

Its been well renowned around these parts as having one of the best line outs of all PCDPs ever...

Imminent update to my review coming up
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post #6 of 33
12/4/03 at 11:33pm
Thread Starter 
Duncan
Is the Sony D303 a current model still in production and available for sale ??

Gregg
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post #7 of 33
12/4/03 at 11:56pm
Quote:
Originally posted by glevethan
Duncan
Is the Sony D303 a current model still in production and available for sale ??

Gregg
nope, the 303 is an older discontinued sony model. They pop up on ebay from time to time. Personally though, please consider a full size cd player.
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post #8 of 33
12/5/03 at 12:02am
Thread Starter 
What "SMALL" CD players are out there.
It will be sitting next to-on top of my PPA

Gregg
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post #9 of 33
12/5/03 at 12:03am
I'm sorry to tell this to you, but most current portable CD players have no line out at all whatsoever. And of those that do (namely high-end Sonys and the iRiver SlimX models), the line outs on the SlimX series players are not true line outs. That leaves the Sonys - but most don't sound as good as older models even from their line outs.
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post #10 of 33
12/5/03 at 12:07am
Thread Starter 
So what does one do?
I would like an alternative to my iPod and its line out with MP3's. I have 1500 CD's sitting in drawers which I might want to use.

Gregg
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post #11 of 33
12/5/03 at 12:14am
What's your budget?
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post #12 of 33
12/5/03 at 12:19am
Thread Starter 
I don't want to go overboard. I am in the process of purchasing a PPA and Senn 650's (dealer cost for the cans).
Maybe another 2-300(but I'm flexible). BUT I want something small to keep on my desk. The PPA is tiny and the iPod is even smaller. I don't want some monster - that is why I was considering a portable.

Gregg

"Welcome to Head-Fi. Watch out for your wallet" BOY DON'T I KNOW!
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post #13 of 33
12/5/03 at 1:04am
hi gregg!

follow the link on duncan's posts. that's a very good starting place to read.
i too second the d303. its lineout is just too good to be true from a desk portable.
btw, congratulations on the power pair (ppa/650). you've made great choices there.
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post #14 of 33
12/5/03 at 1:29am
Quote:
Originally posted by andrzejpw
nope, the 303 is an older discontinued sony model. They pop up on ebay from time to time. Personally though, please consider a full size cd player.
There appears to be a certain amount of stigma attached here... have you heard the D303? if so, and you thouht it was bad, what did you compare it against?

The biggest overall problem with why PCDPs get knocked for their line outs, is their lack of power (voltage).. afterall, they only have half of the juice coming from their line outs when compared to full sized PCDPs...

If you really need to go down the minimal sized route, and want plenty of juice from your line out, the only two that I know of are the D5, and the D14... both from 1984.... although, personally I probably wouldn't go there, as... although there is power, there sn't any finnesse, its very much warts and all

Overall, there is an (admittedly small) window where a higher end older PCDP will sound better than a modern day unit of equivilant value... if you go too cheap with full sized units you end up with a harsh sound that i'd rather forget...

The D303 will be added to my compendium very shortly
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post #15 of 33
12/5/03 at 11:07am
I've heard a few older sony models, can't remember the model numbers off hand though (someone had a d-5xx something or other, it was suppossed to be quite highly regarded). I stand by my words: I think you're much better off with a standalone cd player. What about a small transport/dac combo?
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