Any good small, compact CD players?

[bpm2000]

IMO mini systems, even the nicer denon ones just dont have that great of a price/performance ratio, they do have to give something up to be that small, and as stated before, dorm rooms have plenty of space for your audio gear if you want it to. Just check out your room, and the last decision is always yours

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[BlindSeer]

Hmm... well there's a Denon DM-3 system on ebay right now for Buy It Now $237. I'd say that's a pretty sweet price/performance ratio - this is a NICE sounding system, regardless of the size. I don't think I fully realized how good this thing sounded until I played Mahler 2 through it a few days ago at quite the robust volume.

But like I said, if you're looking for something with good headphone output quality, this may or may not work for you.

 

[MacDEF]

Quote:

MacDEF, when you tested it out, did you hook up a headphone amp to it to check the quality of the line out?

No, cuz I would have hooked a headphone amp through the line-out

But I don't expect much from the headphone jack in any kind of minisystem.


Quote:

Yes, there is a low-level hiss present both through the headphone jack and through the speakers, so I'm assuming it would be present through the line-out as well.

Two things:
1) I've since read that the M30 has some improvements over the M3.
2) I actually doubt highly that the quiet hiss (if it also exists on the M30) would be present in the line-out. The hiss is almost surely from the power source (the headphone jack is probably just a big resistor circuit using the same power as the speaker terminals).

Quote:

But like I said, if you're looking for something with good headphone output quality, this may or may not work for you.

I think it would be great for headphones, assuming you're using an amp. Given the high quality of Denon's CDPs at this price level, even something as inexpensive as a JMT tin amp would give you great sound out of the line-outs.

Quote:

IMO mini systems, even the nicer denon ones just dont have that great of a price/performance ratio

How do you figure? You get a very good CDP, excellent speakers, and a decent amp, plus tuner and other features, for about $300. You could later use it as a CD/preamp with a better amp. It made the Recommended Components list for the cost of most "mid-fi" CD players alone. I call that a great price/performance ratio! I don't think you could get a better complete system for the price via separates.

P.S. Here's the summary listing from Stereophile:
Quote:

"How easy it would be simply to dismiss the Denon/Mission D-M2," mused KR. A "remarkably compact, consistenly fluent system that won't chafe your audiophile sensibilities. A great choice for your office or bedroom, for toting out to the back porch or your cabin in the woods, or for nonaudiophile friends or relatives who want you to fix them up with a new stereo." Say no more!

 

[Neruda]

Quote:

Originally posted by MacDEF No, cuz I would have hooked a headphone amp through the line-out

LOL! MacDEF, read that first statement you quoted very carefully..."MacDEF, when you tested it out, did you hook up a headphone amp to it to check the quality of the line out?"

Anyhoo, that denon does look like an extremely nice system. Definitely my favorite so far! And those speakers don't look half bad, either. Of course, the sound is what's important...

 

[Persiflage]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neruda LOL! MacDEF, read that first statement you quoted very carefully..."MacDEF, when you tested it out, did you hook up a headphone amp to it to check the quality of the line out?"

Yay! Someone caught it before I had to mention it.

Anyway, yeah, this is a nice looking system; thanks for bringing it up, MacDEF. I wonder how the cd player part of it stacks up against the Denon 370, or various other inexpensive cdps.

I had been set on getting something like the 370, but if these are decent, I may have to take a look at 'em too.

 

[MacDEF]

Quote:

LOL! MacDEF, read that first statement you quoted very carefully..."MacDEF, when you tested it out, did you hook up a headphone amp to it to check the quality of the line out?"

OMG! LOL@MYSELF

I thought it said "did you hook up a headphone to check the quality of the line out?" and thought Persiflage was talking about the headphone jack.

Whoops. "F" in reading comprehension for the day for MacDEF.

 

[Neruda]

haha, this reminds me of saying (about the K1000) "ampless it still beats any dynamic headphone, with any amp." LOL! i meant to say "subless" if anyone remembers. And I won't get into having to explain the rest of that sentance

 

[BlindSeer]

Quote:

Originally posted by MacDEF 2) I actually doubt highly that the quiet hiss (if it also exists on the M30) would be present in the line-out. The hiss is almost surely from the power source (the headphone jack is probably just a big resistor circuit using the same power as the speaker terminals).

Yeah, you're totally right. Sorry, wasn't thinking there.

(I double-checked just to make sure.)

 

[huy_ha]

I got my sister a Panasonic/Technics SC-HD505 micro-component system when she was living in a studio. For 15 watts, it filled the apartment and sounded quite good. Comes with optical out. I'm not sure about the line out, but it's listed as having two audio outputs. It's listed at 700 bucks, but I got it for 400, and that was a year and a half ago, so you should be able to get it at your price point. Worth an audition, anyway. Single tray CD with optical out, tuner, clock, remote, horizontal loading cassette deck (if you still remember what one is). And yes, you can turn the blue light off.

 

[Neruda]

I found a pretty good review for this yamaha microsystem: http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi...S00010MCR-E100

The review is here: http://formen.ign.com/news/17215.html

the problem is, this isn't a true audio site so I don't know how much I can trust the review. His having an "audiophile friend" gives me hope, but that could mean all sorts of things (his definition of high-end stuff might not be our definition

). Does anyone have any experience with that system?

I found the reviews for it at audioreview, they're largely positive: http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/M...ct_49604.shtml

 

[MacDEF]

Neruda, be wary of ign's reviews. These are the same folks who found Sony Streetstyle headphones to be "high end"

I have never been a fan of Yamaha minisystems. First, their speakers (like the speakers on most minisystems) are pretty cheap. I'm actually a fan of buying a good pair of speakers separately for most minisystems, since the stock ones are usually so bad (which is why I'm impressed with the Denon and NAD minisystems -- they come with good third-party speakers). Second, I'm just not a fan of Yamaha receivers/amps. In my experience (I owned a Yamaha receiver, and have a couple friends with Yamaha systems, one component, one mini), Yamaha stuff has a very "warm" sound that can be quite non-fatiguing but lacks detail and space.

I should also give full disclosure -- I'm biased against minisystems

They generally sacrifice a lot of quality to keep the price down. As I mentioned above, the speakers are usually horrible, and the sources tend to be "lets see how much we can throw into this small enclosure." The only minisystems I've been pleased with, or heard good things about (from people I trust) are the the NAD system (which is my "2nd" system), the Denon D-M line, and the TEACs (in that order of quality). Oh, and Linn and Marantz make some, but they're a bit pricier

So for $300, I think the Denon is hard to beat, unless you scavenge for a used system. You could probably get an NAD 300-series amp, or a used low-end Rotel, and a used set of $300 speakers (PSB-level) for around $300-$350 together, and then hook up your CD player to it.

 

[Neruda]

thanks macDEF, I'll keep all that in mind; particularly that bit about IGN. uhg!

 

[KurtW]

I use a JVC FS-5000 at the office and it's decent. It's discontinued now but I paid about $200 on close-out; I think it was $400 originally. I checked it out after I saw a positive comment about it in the late Audio magazine. It's compact (which was one of my requirements) and decent looking, the CD player is slightly better than a Panasonic portable, it's got line in and out as well as optical out and subwoofer out (the later I haven't used). The headphone jack is not too bad (again, better than a panasonic portable) but I use it with a Corda. The tuner is decent, and the speakers which I rarely use don't suck like most minisystems I've heard. It also came with a remote control which I don't use because the unit sits right in front of me on my desk. The speakers are not shielded so I have to keep them at least 6" from my monitor. My biggest complaint is that the clock loses about 1-2 minutes a week.

 

[MacDEF]

Kurt, my gf's mother has that system. It's a nice little unit. You also just reminded me that we have a JVC FS-MD9000 in the bedroom (pretty similar to yours but with an MD recorder built in and shielded speakers). I don't listen to it much (I usually use headphones in the br), but it does actually have pretty good sound for something so small. I mainly use it when I want to make a quick MD mix, since it has some great features for CD->MD recording. I actually like the big volume control better on the 5000 -- I *hate* button-operated volume controls

How is the line-out jack on the 5000 for use with the Corda?

FS-MD9000:

FS5000:

 

[kwkarth]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neruda here, this is the sort of thing I'm looking for: That's a kenwood, by the way; Class A/AB speaker amplifier, HDCD capability, and it sounds prettty darn good! Costs $650, though.

Last time I looked, this rig was on sale for around $350, maybe even less at Good Guys.