[stonyboys]

Hello folks, I've always been a portable music listener, and the only home source I have is my computer. Recently my CD drive crapped out, so I decided this is a good time to begin a career in proper home listening.
 
I'm getting really confused with this receiver/DAC talk, so I was wondering, can anyone give me a simple road map? What do I need to get started? I would like a system that plays CDs and it would be lovely if I could plug in my computer/iPod/flash drive and play MP3s.
 
Thanks!

 

[stonyboys]

gotta get bumpin', city of compton!

 

[Omega17TheTrue]

First tell us your budget, to be used only with headphones or also speakers ?

 

[stonyboys]

I don't have a strict budget, but I don't want anything too fancy. I just want a beginner rig that can give me better sound quality than my iPod.
 
And this will most likely be used only with headphones.

 

[CSIR]

AVS forum is your friend.  I have the Denon 3808CI and love it.  Plays flacs off a hard drive if you want, remote shows album if you can figure out how to set that up.  3 zones.  phono setting as well. 4 HDMI

 

[stonyboys]

$1400 for the 3808CI...Is that really what's considered a "beginner" rig in this corner of the room??
 
Oh, and where/what is the AVS forum?

 

[Currawong]

If you can use your computer as a source, and not your mp3 player, then it'll be much easier to help you.  Otherwise, you could get the Wadia iTransport for your iPod, but everything-and-the-kitchen-sink devices aren't cheap and you'll get better SQ value if you don't require as much flexibility.

 

[stonyboys]

No no, I don't want to use my computer nor my iPod as a source. I basically want a high quality home CD player that can output to my headphones instead of speakers.
 
Am I an idiot or do these kinda things actually exist?

 

[stonyboys]

I did some research, and apparently DVD players make for really good and cheap CD players. Can I hook up a DVD player to one of these and get the good sound quality I'm looking for?

 

[clou91]

It has a usb signal input...so from that I'd think that the DAC would only function if hooked up to your computer (someone correct me if I am wrong). The amp would work fine.

 

[stonyboys]

Can anyone confirm the above?

 

[computerparts]

IMO mass market dvd players fail miserably at making music from cd's. If you just want a cheap decent cd player with headphone output, look for a used Marantz CD-63 or CD-67. It'll get the job done.

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

I did some research, and apparently DVD players make for really good and cheap CD players. 

For a couple of years I used a Philips DVP642 as my transport, it was actually pretty good, but a touch clicky and notoriously unreliable , however as a digital transport it was identical (to me) to a NAD C542, I tested this with a switch box and time aligned CDs and was unable to tell them apart so I sold the NAD. The biggest likely issue with DVD players is transport noise, that said I have owned some rather noisy CD transports as well...
 

 

[InFn-0]

Check out the Marantz Cd5003 which goes for $350 or if you dont mind refurbished, you can get it from accessories4less.com at $245. This can be a really good purchase if you are after a no bull cd player.