I need a turntable, and do I need a new CD player?

[003]

I have a Denon DCD-595 CD player, and I can not find much of anything about it online. How good is it? How much is it worth?

Do I need a new one, what should I get? I can only spend about $500.

Also, I need a good turntable. Also, I can only spend up to $500.

I need some suggestions guys, thanks.

 

[Garbz]

For $500 either look for a new Rega P2 clone like the entrylevel Musichalls or NAD units, or look at the second hand market where your dollar may go further.

As for the cdplayer look around your local hifi shops. Take the cdplayer in and compare it to $500 players. If you can justify the difference upgrade, if not either save and buy yourself a better one later, or spend $1000 on a turntable

Not knowing much about how you like your sound it can't really be said with any certainty that your cdplayer does or does not suit your needs.

 

[003]

In terms of a turntable, what would I be looking for on the second hand market?

And what can you say about the CD player I have?

 

[Garbz]

Nothing I've never heard it. Denon are a good brand though. Top line consumer stuff, nothing with real modern audiophile quality though.

I can't comment much on second hand turntables. My experience is limited. I did mention it though because I was in your shoes. I was saving up for a Rega P2 (the NAD branded one) $700AU here (which reminds me as an asside Rega released a P1 which may be worth looking into as a fantastic entry level unit.) When I got the money together for the Rega P2 I found a Rega P3 in perfect condition including cart for $695 on Ebay.

There's been a few threads asking for help with vintage turntables. Many recomendations have come out in the past.

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 I have a Denon DCD-595 CD player, and I can not find much of anything about it online. How good is it? How much is it worth?

Denon's older single-disc players with 20-bit DACs are considered some of the best mainstream consumer transports / sources. You might be better off buying a DAC (if it has digital output, which I couldn't confirm), speakers, or another piece of equipment if you want to upgrade.

It's worth between $40-$60 + shipping, at least on eBay.

 

[003]

The CD player does not have digital out. It says on the front "20-bit 8x oversampling".

How would it compare to the likes of a Rotel RCD-1072?

And I like the price of the Rega P1. I found it here:
http://www.musicdirect.com/products/....asp?sku=AREP1

Is that a good deal?

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 The CD player does not have digital out. It says on the front "20-bit 8x oversampling". How would it compare to the likes of a Rotel RCD-1072? And I like the price of the Rega P1. I found it here: http://www.musicdirect.com/products/....asp?sku=AREP1 Is that a good deal?

"20-bit 8x Oversampling" and lack of digital outputs dates it somewhere in the late 80's early 1990's when CD players were much more expensive and better engineered not like the mass produced DVD-ROM drives in silver plastic boxes you get today, so I would hang onto it. I doubt you would get a massive improvment from the latest Rotel offering.

But it depends more on what your main source will be, ie how many records you plan to have compared to CD's. The differences between a 500 USD and 1000USD CD player are way smaller than those between equivalently priced record players. So I would take Garbz advice and allocate your budget to the vinyl front end if you are going this route.

Look at the 2nd hand market as well. For 1000USD you can pick up some pretty high end turntables on Audigon or from a local dealer. You could get something like a VPI Scout, Thorens TD-125, Technics SP10, Linn Sondek LP12, Sota Sapphire, Roksan Radius....
Any of these will be stomp all over the humble Regas.

If you are going the CD route and just want to play the occassional record then the Rega will be fine but you can get something so much better 2nd hand.

Either way I would take your Denon along to a dealer and compare it to the latest crop. You may find it's a hard act to follow for 1000USD. More modern Delta Sigma players will certainly sound smoother and more detailed upfront but many people find they lack the musicality of older multibit machines and often lack presence due to their poor build quality.

 

[trains are bad]

I'm right now experiencing the fact that there is a far larger difference in record players than there is in CD players. In comparison to the differences between turntables, CD players are pretty much the same.

 

[Herandu]

A turntable is no good on its own without a decent arm and cartridge. A heavy turntable platter is what I always look for since it offers less wow and flutter in my experience. The SME arms are my favourite, and a moving coil cartridge gives you far cleaner high frequencies and a more detailed music experience.
Main point to remember when getting a 2nd hand TT is to change the drive belt right away if it a belt driven one. A noisy TT motor is a sign of problem. In many cases the TT motor nose will bleed through into the music.

 

[003]

I've decided on the Rega P1. 90% of my music is on CD; I just found a few records in my basement and my aunt gave me a few as well. I can not justify spending so much for so few records.

So, the DCD-595 cd player I have was about $220 back when I got it, and it was from a chain so that was probably an inflated price. Are you guys sure the RCD-1072 wouldn't be much of an upgrade?

BTW,
Where can I even get a 1072? I cant find any online.

 

[Herandu]

The NAD players are quite good, and I am not saying that because an old workmate and friend of mine did much of the early work on those fundamental NAD designs. Call me crazy, but I always felt that a heavy CD player sounds better than a light one, irrespective of brand name.

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 Are you guys sure the RCD-1072 wouldn't be much of an upgrade?

Only your ears can tell. Plus, equipment synergy is always a factor. Chances are, the Rotel RCD-1072 would be an upgrade in sound quality. Or, possibly a side-grade. It really depends how much you like Rotel's implementation of the various components. The RCD-1072 has a HDCD decoder, so I suppose it would be better than the DCD-595 for that purpose.

 

[Garbz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 I've decided on the Rega P1. 90% of my music is on CD; I just found a few records in my basement and my aunt gave me a few as well. I can not justify spending so much for so few records. So, the DCD-595 cd player I have was about $220 back when I got it, and it was from a chain so that was probably an inflated price. Are you guys sure the RCD-1072 wouldn't be much of an upgrade? BTW, Where can I even get a 1072? I cant find any online.

The best part about the Rega is its set it and forget it type arm. There's no argueing that SME make fantastic arms, but compared to those all adjustables, rega arms like the RB100 on the P1, or the RB300 I have on my P3 have no vertical tracking alignment, no azimuth, just a counterweight and an antiskate. When the catridge is put on you use washers to align everything, tighten the screws and forget it. Perfect if you're like me and send my turntable to my local hifi shop to get adjusted. I do that about once a year.

On the flip side I know people with SME and many other arms who have to fiddle with minor adjustments every month. Mind you this isn't representative of all arms but I do know at least two people (those who got me into vinyl in the first place) who said they used to own turntables with Rega arms and now just question what they were thinking when they "upgraded"

 

[Herandu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garbz On the flip side I know people with SME and many other arms who have to fiddle with minor adjustments every month. Mind you this isn't representative of all arms but I do know at least two people (those who got me into vinyl in the first place) who said they used to own turntables with Rega arms and now just question what they were thinking when they "upgraded"

If they have to fiddle with the arm every month they are doing something wrong. ANd neither would I send my TT to be set uo at the hifi shop. Once you transport it back home many of the mechanical adjustmenst are going to be out again. The only thing you really need for setting up your TT properly is a new belt if it is belt driven, and a stylus pressure gauge. A strobe disk is also a good idea if the tT hasn't got a strobe light to check the speed accuracy.

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garbz The best part about the Rega is its set it and forget it type arm. There's no argueing that SME make fantastic arms, but compared to those all adjustables, rega arms like the RB100 on the P1, or the RB300 I have on my P3 have no vertical tracking alignment, no azimuth, just a counterweight and an antiskate. When the catridge is put on you use washers to align everything, tighten the screws and forget it. Perfect if you're like me and send my turntable to my local hifi shop to get adjusted. I do that about once a year. On the flip side I know people with SME and many other arms who have to fiddle with minor adjustments every month. Mind you this isn't representative of all arms but I do know at least two people (those who got me into vinyl in the first place) who said they used to own turntables with Rega arms and now just question what they were thinking when they "upgraded"

The cheaper Rega arms like the RB250/300 are certainly the best bang for buck out there in terms of sound quality mainly due to the one piece moulding but the no frills aproach has it's downsides.

The main weakness is that they are built down to a price. The internal wiring is not great and the external wiring is poor. The plastic screw stub is a structural weakness and the green plastic dots used to calibrate downforce and counterforce are risible. VTA adjustment is via washers from the hardware store. Rega don't even supply them which is fine if you have a Rega table but not much fun if you don't.

This is why companies like Incognito, Origin Live and Michell offer upgrades which address these issues but which quadruple the price of the arm.

I have both a vanilla Rega 250 and a fully OL modded one and the difference is huge.