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Dedicated Red Book CD player vs. "Universal" type players....

I surmise this discussion has been debated a fair amount but here goes....I'm searching for the "final" cd player. Red Book playback is important to me as I have an extensive cd collection and am not into computer based sound (yet). So, I don't mind grabbing and popping those silver disks into a player. What are my fellow Audiogoner's thoughts on a dedicated cd player vs. the universal (see Oppo) type of player? Does a one-box solution sacrifice some cd playback performance trying to be a jack of all trades? If so, can you hear that difference? Input and comments most appreciated!
128x128beernut
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
The newest Bryston CD player may be a viable choice. This is a true, one box, Redbook Cd player that does nothing else. No DVD, SACD. The Dac cannot be accessed for computer audio or streaming. A true one trick pony.
beernut's avatar
beernut OP
295 posts
 
Thanks all for the input. I am interested in whether there is (real or perceived) difference in cd playback quality with a "universal" type player. Does all of the added circuitry for video etc. degrade the sound in some way? Or, have they gotten so good that it's immaterial....

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,343 posts
 
My Esoteric UX-3 Universal Player CD, SACD, DVD A, DVD sounds great and IMHO sounds much better than many other players on the market.  I can shut all the video circuitry off from the remote, but I hear no difference in sound.
in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
Beernut , PS Audios new Direct Stream Memory Player is a universal player however not in the same sense of any other universal player on the market past or present .
However there are multiple issues which most if not all universal player brands , it has been found they all have sonic compromises from one thing too another though some company engineers attempted to address , like Bryston with their 3 model , EMM Labs and Esoteric to name a few .

The PS Audio Direct Stream Memory Player and Dac may not be my final digital components though in the here and now that have been by far one of the best purchases in a long , long while .
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
619 posts
 
For a Red Book only CD player look into the Sparkler Audio S503 "spiral" -Smart CD Player. Sparkler Audio was formed when  Kazutoshi Tsukahara left 47 Laboratory and formed 47 Treasure, a short lived kit company that based its designs on 47 labs product and philosophy of less is more. He formed Sparkler to sell finished products designed with the same "less is more" philosophy.
The internal dac utilizes a NOS approach with a TDA1543 chip at its heart. Very natural and real sounding! If your looking for a "close to vinyl" approach to listening then the S503 is a great way to go.  
If your in the states, and near NJ, Charney Audio is a Sparkler Dealer and uses the S503 for his demos and shows.
http://sparkler-audio.com/portfolio/S503_en.html
http://charneyaudio.com/sparkler.html

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