Portable or CD player?

[masonn1]

I'm in the process of buying a source for music playing, but I'm not sure what to buy. I'm wondering if a stationary CD player provides better sound than a portable mp3-player would, in the same price-range? I have been looking for Trekstor Vibez for a while now, but it is sold out everywhere in Sweden, so I'm thinking of getting a CD-player instead. I do most my listening at home anyway.

I will be listening with Sennheiser HD600 headphones and a Darkvoice 332 headphone ampflier. Any suggestions for a CD player?

I have planned on spending about $500, but I can go a bit higher if needed.

 

[elnero]

I think most people here would agree that in general terms a stand alone CD player will sound better than a portable mp3 player. I've briefly compared my Philips DVP642 to my 5G iPod and to my surprise the Philips won out handily. I say surprised because the Philips is basically a cheap DVD player which I've not considered to have great audio quality so I expected the iPod to show better. In the long run though if you can only afford one you have to consider usage. While my iPod may not be the best source out, I've certainly heard far worse and it's convenience and portability make up for some of it's sonic shortfalls making it the source I use most of the time.

 

[DJShadow]

Before I got my NAD C542 (£200/$400 used) I was using a Sony D-NE920 pcdp as my main source for at least a year. Within minutes of acquiring and listening to the NAD I realised the improvement over the pcdp was immense. For me, theres no doubt a good CDP beats any kind of DAP or pcdp (no I haven't heard an imod but I'll stick my neck out and doubt it can compete on value terms) and if you listen mostly at home then its a no-brainer.

In your price range you have the Cambridge Audio 640c, Marantz CD5001 and some others I can't remember

 

[masonn1]

A CD-player it is, then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJShadow /img/forum/go_quote.gif In your price range you have the Cambridge Audio 640c, Marantz CD5001 and some others I can't remember

Are these of higher quality than Pioneer PD-D6-J?

 

[DJShadow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by masonn1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pioneer PD-D6-J?

I've never even heard of that player before

The Pioneer retails for more than the range of players I've mentioned and can also playback SACDs. Why have you chosen that particular player? Is there an opportunity for you to get a good deal on one?

 

[masonn1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJShadow /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've never even heard of that player before The Pioneer retails for more than the range of players I've mentioned and can also playback SACDs. Why have you chosen that particular player? Is there an opportunity for you to get a good deal on one?

Nah, no special opportunity for the Pioneer, but they recommended it down at the local discshop. So I'm better off with one of the ones you mentioned above?

 

[plaidplatypus]

The Pioneer PD-D6-J is not available in the U.S. but it has SACD playback.

 

[luidge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plaidplatypus /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Pioneer PD-D6-J is not available in the U.S. but it has SACD playback and looks a lot nicer than the NAD, I would go for the Pioneer.

Look!!! Common i am sure you can do better than this dude! It all about the sound! I would suggest find some pro reviews about them two player. Or better yet take some time here and get yourself an opinion based on the reviews then buy your CDP.

Oh if you meant look nicer in therm of build or SQ sorry about my comment. And SACD playback is always good to have.

 

[plaidplatypus]

The C542 is available in much nicer looking colors in Europe (silver and black). I would actually buy one if I lived there.

 

[bigshot]

My Phillips 963sa sounds exactly like my iPod and it's a well regarded player. The quality of sound produced by DAPs depends more on the quality of the rip and encode than it does the quality of the hardware. At least, that's been my experience with iPods.

See ya
Steve

 

[masonn1]

I think I might go for a NAD C342.

So which sort of cable should I get for the amp -> cdp? I now have one of these: http://signalcable.com/silvermini.html but I don't know if it is optimal when you got a cdplayer?

 

[masonn1]

I think I might go for a NAD C542.

So which sort of cable should I get for the amp -> cdp? I now have one of these: http://signalcable.com/silvermini.html but I don't know if it is optimal when you got a cdplayer?

 

[elnero]

Probably something similar will do just fine but I believe you'll need a straight RCA to RCA to go from the player to the amp you listed earlier.

 

[masonn1]

Which would you choose of the NAD C542 and the Arcam CD72T?

 

[elnero]

The Arcam CD72T is a fairly old player, if I remember correctly that's the model I heard a few years back and I wasn't particularly impressed with it. In the under $500 category you could also look at a used Rega Planet 2000, new Cambridge 640C V2, and I believe the Arcam CD73 probably falls into that category as well. I've owned an original Cambridge 640C so I'm not sure how different the V2 is but the original was a decent performer. The Rega is a really nice player as well.

There's probably quite a few others that fall into the under $500 category as well.