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Better CD Sound: The Search

Went Big into Vinyl last 2 years, then re-discovered my many CD’s, mixing it up plenty now.

I continue to try and find a CD Player with better sound than my existing cheapo Sony Changer that surprisingly keeps on keeping on.

I am hoping recent upgrades to the system will more readily reveal differences:

99.9999 copper speaker wires and interconnects, locking rca connectors, mx110z tube tuner/preamp overhaul by Audio Classics; cayin a88t bias by VAS; 16 ohm L-Pads replacing 8 ohm pots; and finally a I bought a sound meter to balance/refine the speaker’s L-Pads (it ain’t easy) for the best sound ever.
.....................................

CD Quest So Far:

I want dual processors, go used to keep cost down, even consider older vintage.

1. my Onkyo Grand Integra (DX-7500 I think), fixed the damn drawer opening problem several times.

2. This cheapo Sony Changer given to me, eh, use if for parties, why not.
surprisingly sounded as good as the Onkyo to me and friends, gave the annoying Onkyo away.

3. tried used Oppo 83 Video Player for it’s audio

Laser was weak, ’no disc’, found it is a common problem with heavily used lasers. Back it went

4. lightly used Oppo 105. Everything worked, but didn’t sound better than the Sony. Oppo is big, single, expensive, not sellers fault, so I sold it myself rather than return it, lost $205. on that attempt.

5. ’new original stock’ KLH (made by?). played a few discs, then the discs started mis-tracking on discs I know are ok.

found small black bits clinging to the surface in the area of the problems (cds play from the inside out, just guess how far out). Turned out, the belt(s) were dried out, thus when put into motion after years of storage (where?), they shed bits of rubber. Back it went, full refund including return shipping. never compared it to the Sony’s sound

6. Resolved: if vintage, make sure belts are available, get a low price, open it up when it arrives, watch it move ... use, replace belts, return as last choice.

7. Just Bought Two, in transit, One Single; One 6 Disc Changer. (both with oem remotes and power cords, most for sale are missing).

a. Denon DVD-2910 Single Player (big dent on the top. $52. del’d, eBay) (crutchfield keeps old info on their site)
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-6TIPMQKBMUZ/p_033DV2910B/Denon-DVD-2910-Black.html

b. Onkyo Integra CDC-3.4 six disc changer (open box/demo) ($51. delivered) (bserplus.com)
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_164CDC34/Integra-CDC-3-4.html

c. a bag of belts. because I will be keeping something, and I have other old stuff with belts
https://www.ebay.com/itm/334135204014

d. spare rare OEM remote for Integra 3.4, eBay

Keeping My Ears Crossed!

elliottbnewcombjr
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder,
+ 10! An excellent and honest/bluntly put assessment. You rarely if ever see forum threads where people try to take a very cheap route assembling an analogue turntable system. They know it’s a futile effort and poor quality sound is the outcome.

For some unfounded (Misguided?) reason there’s a belief amongst some that digital is simply abouts ’bits, 0 and 1', as though  nothing else impacts what is heard. Any old CD player will get the job done mindset. . This superficial and shallow attitude overlooks the numerous factors that distinguish genuine high quality digital components from junk.

The competency of manufacturing, engineering, design, part quality and implementation of transports/streamers/DAC are critical aspects to address if one truly wants to obtain high levels of digital sound quality. Same approach and commitment as analogue requires, otherwise you are just aimlessly wandering with no pathway toward success.
Charles
giantsalami's avatar
giantsalami
229 posts
 
That Douglas_Schroeder guy is correct. I(very) recently upgraded my Bryston cdp-3 to a T+A Tubed player. The difference is quite amazing. Although the Bryston is a fine player, it simply is not in the same league. I was looking at the Project transport with a seperate DAC or the Ayon CD-10, when I saw the T+A on the TMR site.By far, this is the best of the players I have owned. 
elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,637 posts
 
Use a DAC. 

In these two players I just bought, I have chosen which dual sets of built-in DAC's I want to try. That was the selection process.

Denon: Burr Brown
Integra: Wolfson

And, I want to hear the 'House Sound' of Denon or Integra in those respective years, That may be perceptibly different, and then, if so, Preferred?

i.e. "It's what you do with/to the bits that makes a difference".

"To say the difference is Quite Small is an Understatement"

"Famous Vintage DACs are Overhyped". "Everything is Overhyped".

"Demanding Audiophiles are Never Satisfied".
..................................

New/Used. I much prefer getting/keeping older stuff going. For everyone who thinks new is better, someone else swears by used.

Denon 2910 arrived, took the cover off, looks 1 minute old, not a speck of dust, everything pristine except the dent in the top which I could care less about. Drawer movement smooth.

Recognized SACD or CD automatically.

Immediately sounded Bass Heavy, I read the manual, prior owner had 'Bass Enhancer' ON. Found out how, did a factory reset, that problem gone,

1st impression, grabbed Tierney Sutton SACD out of the Sony, 2 favorite tracks, terrific, had to go to airport to pick up Donna, so no real listening or comparison yet. Has 'Pure Direct' like the Oppos, others, cuts out the video circuitry and display circuitry.

Takes a long time to load/read the index, then the fastest individual track selection ever, and no need to press play, just press 6, bingo it starts playing, I absolutely love that.

Listening for real commences this evening.

tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,130 posts
 
I am not sure why this is so common.    

The OP asks about CD players and says that the ones he has tried are Onkyo changers and a used Denon that cost him $52 on Ebay.    

One of the responses he gets is to look at a Bricasti M1 DAC at $9,000 and another suggests a $4,000 PS Audio transport.    

What did Marie Antoinette say, “Let them eat cake”?
mmj
8 posts
 
High value/performance for CD : Jay’s Audio. I was in the same boat as you last year. Two versions, transport only and one with built in DAC. I was skeptical about buying direct from a Chinese co. But, my experience was excellent. Jays uses a single distributor I think out of Singapore. Communication was excellent- better than most dealers in the US! I got the transport and run it into my old msb Dac - couldn’t be happier. That was an upgrade from my also very nice for the day Cary Audio CD player. Last year it was 2500/3000 w Dac. Good luck 
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