Strictly Redbook playback - CE595 vs. DVP642

[khbaur330162]

Title says it all. I'm looking for the best Redbook playback possible in the $50-$150 price range. Will be mated with an external DAC of some sort. (Looking at the DAC-AH, Zhaolu, Entech Number Cruncher, etc.)

Amp = Corda H5
Headphones = K701

What would give me the most synergistic/natural reproduction for a reasonable price? Thanks ahead of time.

Edit: The two CDP's mentioned are not the only ones I'm willing to look at. Those just seem to be the most popular atm. (FOTM?) Recommendations for other transports are definitely welcome.

 

[HeatFan12]

Kh...I had the same dilemma. They both sound great. The 642 for the pricepoint is hard to beat. It has both coax and optical, whereas the 595 has only optical. I bought both and I enjoy both. I could always use the 642 for dvd's in the future

...
I can't advise on those nice 701's, but on the CDP's they are both great deals...IMHO...
Good luck
Jes

 

[khbaur330162]

Thanks, HeatFan. I'm looking to buy a DAC with optical in, so I wouldn't exactly need a coaxial digital output on my transport, although I do see where that could be a nice bonus if I ever was looking to upgrade. (though I'd most likely be upgrading the CDP in the first place) I'll be going to college, so I can see where the unification of video and audio would be beneficial, but I'll most likely use my Xbox for DVD's, so again, not exactly merited. Also, the Sony is a 5 CD changer, which I could definitely utilize. Can you comment on one sound being any better than the other? I think the Sony, although a tad more expensive, is more suited for my needs if in fact they are fairly equivalent as far as SQ is concerned. Just to note, I won't be buying the Sony for its SACD playback, and most likely won't use it ever on any occasion.

Appreciated.

 

[HeatFan12]

As far as SQ is concerned, it's a toss up, given the price differential. I'm using both through a Zhaolu 2.5C (642 coax, 595 optical) and it is really close. The 2.5 has a built-in discrete headphone amp, and the only difference I notice without my Xenos amp, is that the 642 has better SQ (not by much) out of the headphone out of the 2.5. The 595 seems to be thinner without the Xenos..
Before I received the Zhaolu, I tried them both via analog with the Xenos only and the 595 has it beat in that aspect.
Whichever way you go, you will not be disappointed.
In reference to your future dac purchase, I can only comment on the 2.5...The number cruncher, dac-ah ha, great march, were on my list also. I went with the Zhaolu and I am very happy with my decision....
You have a great set of headphones, so whichever route you take, I think those 701's will benefit from either the 595 or 642...
Jes

 

[infinitesymphony]

If you'll only be using it as a transport, it would make sense to buy the player with the best functionality and the most reliable playback mechanisms. With the SCD-CE595, you'll have a dedicated CD (and SACD) player that can hold five discs at once. The DVP642 is flimsy in comparison, can only hold one disc at once, and is not a dedicated CD player. Like other similarly-priced DVD players, it has reliability issues. So, my vote is for the SCD-CE595 in all respects.

If you're interested in both audio and video and are willing to buy used, I'll throw in a few votes for Pioneer's universal (CD/DVD/SACD/DVD-A) players in the $50-$150 price range:

Pioneer DV-563A
Pioneer DV-578A-S
Pioneer DV-588A-S
Pioneer Elite DV-45A

If you're willing to closely watch eBay, you can find some excellent deals. I recently bought a DV-578A-S for ~$45 shipped, and bought one before that for my girlfriend for ~$35 shipped.

 

[Driftwood]

I own the Pioneer Pioneer DV-578A-S and to me it seems like a DVD player with it's audio capabilities an afterthought. It is nice that it is a "universal" player but it definitely is cheaply constructed and I think in all ways is only a mediocre performer.

I haven't tried the DVP642 but I expect it to be similar to the DV-578A-S in terms of build quality and performance.

Driftwood

 

[khbaur330162]

Thanks for all the replies guys, but I may just be going back to square one with my headphone setup; the headphones. If I do get a different pair of headphones, most likely the K701's and H5 will go to the For Sale forum.

What I'm asking now is:

If I get a pair of low impedance cans, would it be wise to buy a more expensive CDP ($200-$300) with perhaps a headphone jack I could plug directly into? I'm thinking it may be wise to buy a good source and pair of cans first instead of the most widely accepted method of working backwards from your ear to the source/transport. What do you guys think?

Thanks again.

 

[infinitesymphony]

I think I misread the original post the first time (or forgot what I was supposed to be answering). If you're only using the player as a transport, there should be little to no difference between players' digital outputs. Since you already have a headphone amplifier, why not just focus on buying an external DAC like you originally considered? That way, you can use the DAC with any source that has digital output.

I guess I was thrown off because you said that you'd be using an external DAC, then asked which player would have the best sound quality. If the player isn't doing the analog conversion, it isn't responsible for outputting audio, and as such will have no "sound quality."

 

[Driftwood]

I really wouldn't suggest using the headphone output on a CD player except as a last resort. The headphone output on CD players and integrated amplifiers etc. are used but a very small percentage of people and the audio companies know it; they are constructed as cheaply as possible just so they can add another feature to their list.

Discrete headphone amplifiers are designed in a completely different way and should be considered essential for serious headphone listening -- like a good preamp, the headphone amp is there to match impedence as well as giving you good, clean amplification.

I'd suggest getting a headphone amp first, good headphones second, a good source third, and a DAC fourth. Of course, after step 2, you might be sooo happy that you never get any further...



... OK, maybe not.

Driftwood

 

[Funkdeal]

what does the display on the front of dvp642 show during cd playback? i use a ps2 right now as a source with no tv hooked up to it, and i hate not being able to tell or know what track i'm on. thanks.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkdeal what does the display on the front of dvp642 show during cd playback? i use a ps2 right now as a source with no tv hooked up to it, and i hate not being able to tell or know what track i'm on. thanks.

Not much - track number and elapsed time.

 

[regal]

I have both the Pio 563A and 578A. The 563A is much better for audio, pioneer started cutting back on the audio while adding video (MPEG4) to the newer models. The 578A has a known problem with clipping.

 

[Funkdeal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hciman77 Not much - track number and elapsed time.

that's good enough for me. thanks.

 

[Gravitas]

I have the 578A. Got it very cheap on ebay. Haven't noticed any clipping so far. Sounds fine thru a Headfive to hd650s. Though I'm looking to buy an external DAC to see what kind of improvement there will be.

 

[mrarroyo]

I also have the Philips DVP642 and it feeds a Lite Dac-Ah using a Blue Jean Cable coaxial cable. I then use Blue Jean Cable RCA to RCA ICs to go from the Lite Dac-Ah to an used Musical Fidelity X-Can V2. I have spent about $400 for all the components including the interconnects and the sound is fantastic. Considering the total price of $400 you will be hard pressed to find a comparable combo that will sound as good.

-Philips DVP642: $39 with free S&H from Circuit City http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Searc...rchSection=All
-Blue Jean Cable coaxial and rca to rca interconnect: $50
-Lite Dac-Ah: $155 (you save about $8 if you order on the 1st tuesday of a month) from Pacific Valve http://pacificvalve.us/LTDACAH2.html
-Musical Fidelity X-Can V2: $160 used here on the forums or on Ebay