Where do best of new PCDPs (EJ1000, SlimX, etc.) stack up vs. older?

[tmann]

Hi. First post. Great site!

Summary/ Nitty Gritty: : Sony EJ1000/2000 vs. SlimX350/400 vs. "legendary". I want the best-sounding truly portable PCDP that I can get (HEADPHONE OUT), that is not too bulky. I would greatly appreciate any help with any of my questions, and I will pass the knowlege

. I've read all about the D777, but it is probably going to be tough to get one. Ditto for D-515, D-303, D-311, D-E900/5, etc. So while I keep looking for these, I'll settle for the next best tier. Thus my dilema...

Since it seems the rule that ALL older model PCDPs are better than the new ones, are the Sony EJ1000/2000 and/or SlimX 350/400 that people are touting actually a step up from recent years, or merely the best of what is currently available? Where in the pantheon of great PCDPs do they stack up (CD headphone out)? Are they better than the Panasonic SL-S361C or SL-SX500? CT470/570? Optimus 3400? (I read where DUNCAN said he thought the EJ1000 was better than the 777 through his V6's ?????) Also, doesn't the remote on the new players degrade the sound quality? Why listen to Grados with that nice thick cord, only to have it negated by the thin remote cord?

Also, has anyone compared the SlimX350/400 to the Sony EJ1000/2000 for best of the current players? Are there any other contenders? I will try to listen to them myself , but I probably won't be able to for a while. I know that the Sony will give much better battery life, and I really like how small they are, but the Slimx has a radio, so I'll consider those features seperately. For now I don't care about anything other than CD headphone out. Which sounds better? How about Bass boost/eq on each? Many times this is necessary when in a noisy environment. I would much prefer if it gave controlled bass and didn't mess up the rest of the spectrum or distort. Anti-skip? HELLPP!!

Anyone tried a new Sanyo (I like how my old one sounds)?


Backround/ further reading for your enjoyment

I have a Sanyo CDP-350 that I got around '96-7 or so and the thing just won't stop (taped on battery cover, cracked top cover and all). It's been around the world and back (I was an engineer on Merchant ships), and I kind of feel bad replacing it

. However, it goes through batteries like crazy (about 3 hours on two AA), and I would prefer a smaller one (it looks like the Optimus 3400 style, maybe a little thicker.)

I took it to an electronics store a couple of years ago and tested various new models with my trusty GRADO SR-60's, and, as anyone on this board can guess, nothing sounded as good as mine. Especially the MEGA-SUPER-MAXX-XTRA-whatever bass boosts. The Sanyo has two eq settings, and the first one boosts only the bass to a level where it is enhanced, but listenable. I chalk it up to the higher power (thus less battery life), enabling it to deliver good, non-distorted bass.

I now want to "portabalize" more, so a smaller unit, with more battery power would be great (even 10 hours on AA would seem like a lot!), but I still want quality sound through the headphone out. Any of the more "gettable" older ones would be great, if they were better than the new ones. I don't care if its new or old, if it fits the bill. (I am also thinking of getting Senn. MX-200's so I can stick them in a pocket, which I can't do with SR-60's. )

That's my PCDP story. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by tmann I read where DUNCAN said he thought the EJ1000 was better than the 777 through his V6's ?????

Hi tmann, welcome to Head-Fi...

The only reason that the V6 sound better on the newer player is because the midrange is bloated on the EJ1000 which makes the midrange recessed V6 sound pretty balanced...

That is the exception rather than the rule though...

D777s come up quite a lot on Ebay etc. and are one of the only two truly PORTABLE classic (good sounding) Discmen... The older units you mentioned are only transportable

Good luck in your quest

 

[tmann]

Duncan - Thanks for the reply. I'll keep a lookout for the D777.

However, why would you not consider the D515 "portable"? I'm thinking that for a PCDP to be portable, you should be able to walk around with the player in a backback or pocket (Not necessarily jog or mountain bike). To me that means at least 4 hours batt life, and the ability to not skip while walking, which would probably require some kind of anti-skip. (Although I know some players supposedly can do this without anti-skip, and I never use it on my old Sanyo - although if I were to pay >$50, I would expect to not have to worry about it jiggling too much, like I do now)

Would the D515 meet these criteria?

Other than the D777, D-E900/5, do any other older models that you know of meet these criteria? (D321, DJ50, etc.?)

 

[lini]

tmann: What you need is a Grundig Squixx CDP 4101 AS10, which unfortunately doesn't seem to be available in the US. Sonic quality from the line-out is about as good as from my old Sanyo CDP-55A (which has a hissy headphone out, though) and much better than the newer Sanyo CDP-1300 and CDP-4300. And the quality from the (powerful 2x 15 mW) headphone out is fairly respectable as well. Overall, I'd rate it quite a bit better than the SL-CT570(A), which in comparision has a rather wimpy headphone out and a certain grainyness to its sound... Over here it's a steal at ~ 50 Euro at the moment.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Lisa]

Lini,

That Grundig sounds great!!!
I've been looking for a PCDP but everything I read here sounds like it's not worth the effort.
Two questions,
-What is the batterylife like? I use 1800mah nimh. (give about the same as average alkalines)
-What's the headphones out sound like, dark, bright, neutral?
I use the px100s which are dark phones so a bright or neutral sounding player will compliment it nicely.
-Do you know if it's available in the Netherlands and if not do you know somewhere online where I can order from Germany?

(sorry, three questions

)

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by tmann Would the D515 meet these criteria?

Sorry ~ I haven't seen one, so I can't answer

 

[Lisa]

I found a folder with Grundig products of 2002 under my bed

Maybe next time I should think before I post. The whatitsname is in it and I it says it has 16hrs of playback on mignon cells.
Are those AA's or AAA's? And is that time accurate?

 

[lini]

Lisa: As our dear Plainsong could even get it in Finland, I guess you should be able to dig it up in the Netherlands, too. Apart from that you could always try online ordering from Germany - the best way would probably be clicking yourself through from this price comparision site: www.geizhals.at/de - they should still have several vendors listed for the Grundig.

Sonic signature is fairly present with plenty but not sibilant or grainy highs and good, maybe a little soft bass. Fairly enjoyable and not as unnerving as the Sanyo CDP-1300/4300 for example.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: I shouldn't forget to mention one minor drawback, though: SNR is not that high, so if you listen very loud you might notice a very faint motor noise in silent parts of the music.

P.P.S.: Oh, yes, battery life - I use two Friwo NiMH 2000 mAh AA cells with it - sounds good and lasts for ~ 10 hours (usually including ~ 4 weeks of self discharge - I'm rarely listening to music nowadays...).

 

[Lisa]

Quote:

Originally posted by lini Sonic signature is fairly present with plenty but not sibilant or grainy highs and good, maybe a little soft bass. Fairly enjoyable and not as unnerving as the Sanyo CDP-1300/4300 for example. Greetings from Munich! Manfred / lini P.S.: I shouldn't forget to mention one minor drawback, though: SNR is not that highs, so if you listen very loud you might notice a very faint motor noise in silent parts of the music.

Soft bass won't be a problem with the headphones I use. They have a bit to much bass so they will complement eachother.

Is this noise only when you listen to loud music or also with low volumes? I listen mostly to low volumes.

I think it won't be a problem getting it in the Netherlands, it was available last year so as long as it isn't dicontinued.

 

[lini]

Lisa: You will have to listen very loudly (I'd say with more than 85 dB...) plus hit a silent part of the music to notice a faint motor noise. So it really isn't that much of a problem.

Lini

P.S.: And by the way: Go for the silver version. The white one would be nice, too, if the lower part wouldn't bite with a different tone of white...

 

[Lisa]

Quote:

Originally posted by lini P.P.S.: Oh, yes, battery life - I use two Friwo NiMH 2000 mAh AA cells with it - sounds good and lasts for ~ 10 hours (usually including ~ 4 weeks of self discharge - I'm rarely listening to music nowadays...).

lol.
So will be 9 hours with GP1800 I quess.

Does it shock easyly when the antishock is off? I'm gonna use it at home, with the PCDP lying on the other side of my bed. So it only has to be able to handle a litlle movement from replacing it and when I move around in bed (or sometimes walk to the fridge with it.) Found a site I trust selling it and the 4100 without antishock is €30 cheaper. (Me being Dutch and all

) So if you could turn the antishock off and walk to the fridge with it and it doesn't skip. Let me know. I'll be very thankfull.

 

[lini]

Lisa: I've got the 4100, too, but I wouldn't guarantee for skip-free extreme fridge-walking.

Lini

 

[Lisa]

But normal horizontal holding fridge walking will be fine most of the time?

What I really want to know if it skips with every movement or only with abrubt strong movement.

[size=xx-small]Now I go to bed, have an early night. You have a good night too Manfred! [/size]

 

[lini]

Yup, normal horizontally pcdp holding without too much stomping or catching your pyjama sleeves at the door handles fridge-walking (aka non-stoned or sober fridge-walking) should be 100% ok.

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa [size=xx-small]Now I go to bed, have an early night. You have a good night too Manfred! [/size]

Thanks a lot! Plus friendly grinnings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[tmann]

lini - Thanks for the info on the Grundig. Never heard of the company, but the price is right and if it sounds good through headphone out, I'm in! (At least it could hold me over until I find my D777 that is out there somewhere, waiting for me

)

I checked out the vendors through the link you posted.

- Are you familiar with these stores? Any I should stay away from? electronica24 had the best price. Also sold at Technik Direct, Promarkt and yagma.com

- I see there is a 4102 with 40 sec. anti-shock, as opposed to 10 sec. for the 4101. Have you heard the 4102? I would obviously like the longer anti-shock, but I am wary that it may sacrifice sound quality, as with the Japanese models.

Have you compared the Grundig to any players other than Sanyo and the CT570? Curious as to how it would compare to SlimX350/400, Sony EJ1000, SL-S361, Optimus 3400, etc.