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.
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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

Mr. Fixit Lost the Parts, TWICE!

1. I had the Denon finding CD’s, but not SACD. Returned/Received Replacement Laser. Successfully de-soldered two anti-static solder lumps on the laser, grabbed my little bag of parts to reassemble, 1 of 3 springs missing! F.....d without it. In the trash.

Humiliated.

2. Yamaha DVD-C961 arrived. As described: works, finds and plays SACD, CD, DVDs. Opens, loads. Problem: need to MANUALLY close the drawer. Sure enough, problem is a worn/stretched belt. Real easy fix, cover off: complete access to it’s 3 belts when the tray is extended, just put it on.

Remember? Mr. Fixit pre-ordered a mixed bag of belts and put them in a ’LOGICAL’ location.

I cannot find that bag of belts anywhere!!!

New bag of belts arrives tomorrow,

Humbled,

 

WINNER: Yamaha DVD-C961 Changer. DVD/SACD/CD Changer

 

 

"The DVD-C961 has four two-channel Burr Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs for the stereo and 5.1-channel output sections to provide absolute sonic transparency."

It sounds terrific, as good as the former winner, Integra CDC-3.4 mark II which I will now sell. Different Processors, Different OEM Bag-O-Tricks whatever they are.

I’m keeping the Yamaha as it plays the few SACDs I own, Integra is CDs Only. It’s a bit smaller, awkwardly has the drawer at the top, so it blocks the buttons when open, 5 discs, Integra has 6. Like Oppo’s the Yamaha has Audio Direct which avoids all video circuitry. Also, like the Oppo, I don’t hear any difference, but ...

It has 3 identical currently available rubber belts. Case off, Open the tray, in full view, no tools, simply replace them, couldn’t be easier.

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It has Digital Outs, so if you tried one, didn’t think it was great, you could always use it as a spinner and go to an outboard DAC. Does it send SACD out as DSD via the Optical Outs? I presume it converts DSD to PCM for the RCA out, but you still get the recording benefits of SACD.

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Answer to the former question: do I think I can get a great sounding CD player for not much money? Quite Happily, Hell Yes, I found Two!

WINNER, Yamaha, $133. including tax and delivery. Add $14. for two OEM belts for the future.

RUNNER UP, Integra CDC-3.4 Mark II, nearly new, $284. incl. tax and delivery. CD only, Never heard Mark I, I highly recommend the Mark II, (newer, remote RC778, serial # suffix M).

LOSER: Denon 2910, total loss -$54. I didn't like it's sound, too bright, then I lost a critical spring needed to try and replace the laser to read SACDs (I had it reading CD's). I was going to give it to somebody, now the recycler, oh well, I learned something.