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CD player connected directly to Amplifier?

I've been noticing some CD players which can be connected directly to the amp; in many models, its the recommended way to play them. I've never done this, but it seems like a good way to go assuming one has a nice high-end cd player equipped for such a task. I see the obvious advantage of foregoing the expense of a separate preamp, especially in a combined HT/2 channel rig like my own. Is there an obvious advantage in performance? Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this method?
michaeljbrown
flashunlock
175 posts
 
IMO and from my own experiences in my own system, I always found adding a pre amp even though the CD player can drive power amps directly always gave much more in terms of layers, depth and a more realistic mid range. I have owned the Weiss combo, Esoteric, DCS stack and the Wadia 581-SE being the best out of the group in terms of digital volume section.
Using all of those players directly always sounded a bit thin, harsh and 2 dimensional in comparision.

Hope this helps.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
A "digital" volume control does not have to be implemented by "throwing away bits". If you were to "throw away" a bit, and I guess that means left shift the data, the bit you would lose would be the least significant one, which, since you are listening at reduced volume is unlikely to be audible. But such a shift would give a 6dB volume reduction, so I doubt that such an approach is used.
gsm18439
895 posts
 
I have used three CDPs with volume controls to drive amplifiers directly. Specifically, both the EAR Acute and Ancient Audio Lektor Prime had analogue volume controls. There was nothing to fault either of them.
zieman
339 posts
 
I have yet to hear a high end cd player sound as good as when incorporating an equal quality preamp.
rjhalla
47 posts
 
Whenever you can remove a component from the signal path you are very likely improving the resultant sound. If adding a pre improves the sound then it is likely you prefer what is being added, but in real terms it also means you don't really like the source you purchased and you are changing the inherent character.

For those that have yet to hear a cd or sacd player sound better driving an amp directly....well I challenge to plug an MCD500 or MCD301 into your system and report back.
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