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Small Footprint CD Player?

post #1 of 8
4/7/11 at 4:58pm
Thread Starter 

There's been a few of these threads over the years, but I haven't been able to find one that is very recent. I'm looking for a decent CD player with a small footprint. What are my options now-a-days?

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post #2 of 8
4/7/11 at 10:34pm
I don't think CD players are relevant any longer. Instead, I'd look for a small DAC fed from a server. You'd probably be better off ripping everything to lossless and pursuing a computer-as-source solution.

I'm planning to use a server to AppleTV to DAC setup. It'd minimize hardware and let me play everything from an iPad. I prefer that to a rack of discs and having to feed individual discs.
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post #3 of 8
4/7/11 at 10:38pm
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

I don't think CD players are relevant any longer. Instead, I'd look for a small DAC fed from a server. You'd probably be better off ripping everything to lossless and pursuing a computer-as-source solution.

I'm planning to use a server to AppleTV to DAC setup. It'd minimize hardware and let me play everything from an iPad. I prefer that to a rack of discs and having to feed individual discs.


 


Well, I have a thing for a shelf full of music...It just feels nice to go back to (some sort) of root every now and then. My big CD collection was lost recently so I need to start rebuilding and enjoying it a long with a more computer based solution as well. That's why I want one with a small footprint. Nice and simple for a small, respectful CD collection.

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post #4 of 8
4/8/11 at 4:11am

Shanling has one that's only a touch wider and taller than an external CD-Rom drive. Little Dot has one but that one needs a DAC. Normally I'd go for using a PC as a server, but my last laptop crashed and took the video card with it; not to mention that using a PC consumes more electricity than your amp and DAC together. Suddenly I was happy that I got all sentimental before and kept my Marantz CD60 in storage.

When I get the computer working though I'll get a Mede8er NMT. I can hook it up to my HD monitor's 2nd input and use the external HDD I use as back up for those times I don't really need the other features on the PC (ie, net browsing; or playing games after). You can consider something like this too, or maybe a Pure i20 if you happen to have or may come across a 160gb 6th gen iPod.

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post #5 of 8
4/9/11 at 9:37am

I've run into this before as well: whenever I've asked around for something like you describe, people basically tell you to give up CD playback and get some sort of computer based playback system. That's great. I love my media server with Squeezebox Touch But I also have tons of CDs and sometimes you just want to pop one in and play it. Here are a few options from what I've found:

 

Shanling:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Shanling-PCD300A-CD-Player-Headphone-Amplifier-New-/220743668779?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336559142b#ht_1040wt_752

 

Mistral:

http://www.napaacoustic.com/Electronics.html

 

Cambridge (they have a CD only player or a DVD/CD player which is a bit cheaper):

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/cambridge-audio-mini-stereo-systems.html

 

Virtue Audio:

http://store.virtueaudio.com/product-p/vrtu-cd-pianom1-pbf-1.htm

 

Cayin (good luck finding much info or a distributer though):

http://www.cayin.de/english/cd_cd12a.htm

 

These are just off the top of my head. I haven't heard any of them but they all satisfy the criteria for what you seem to want. If you end up with one, please post about it with pics and impressions, as the small CD player is sort of a forgotten item around here.

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post #6 of 8
4/9/11 at 2:44pm

There's also Cyrus: http://www.cyrusaudio.com/products/cd-players

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post #7 of 8
4/9/11 at 3:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by project86 View Post

I've run into this before as well: whenever I've asked around for something like you describe, people basically tell you to give up CD playback and get some sort of computer based playback system. That's great. I love my media server with Squeezebox Touch But I also have tons of CDs and sometimes you just want to pop one in and play it. Here are a few options from what I've found:

 

Shanling:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Shanling-PCD300A-CD-Player-Headphone-Amplifier-New-/220743668779?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336559142b#ht_1040wt_752

 

Mistral:

http://www.napaacoustic.com/Electronics.html

 

Cambridge (they have a CD only player or a DVD/CD player which is a bit cheaper):

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/cambridge-audio-mini-stereo-systems.html

 

Virtue Audio:

http://store.virtueaudio.com/product-p/vrtu-cd-pianom1-pbf-1.htm

 

Cayin (good luck finding much info or a distributer though):

http://www.cayin.de/english/cd_cd12a.htm

 

These are just off the top of my head. I haven't heard any of them but they all satisfy the criteria for what you seem to want. If you end up with one, please post about it with pics and impressions, as the small CD player is sort of a forgotten item around here.



 



Quote:
Originally Posted by Michgelsen View Post

There's also Cyrus: http://www.cyrusaudio.com/products/cd-players



 


Thanks for the suggestions guys. Appreciate it. I've got the Cambridge and Shanling on my list, but I may see if I can snag one from my father (classic Hi-Fi guy) if he has anything small enough/ If not, I really like the Shanling look. I'll post whenever I get (whatever I get) set up. Also, how's that Squeezebox Touch treating you? Considering something with one of those as well.

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post #8 of 8
4/9/11 at 7:40pm

Pro-Ject has a two small foot print CD players in there line. 

 

http://box-designs.com/main.php?prod=cdbox&cat=digital&lang=en

 

&

 

http://box-designs.com/main.php?prod=cdboxse&cat=digital&lang=en

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