After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.

In article ,
"mark e" wrote:

After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.



If you're using the digital outputs, it shouldn't matter cd or dvd
player. If you're using the analog outputs, try to find the best dac
enabled dvd player you can find. Even then the differences are
negligible. IMO I'd go with a dvd player just for the extra features. As
with anything YMMV.

--
Cyrus

*coughcasaucedoprodigynetcough*

"mark e" wrote in message


After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I
buy a high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a
CD player?

Why not get a mid-fi DVD player and enjoy!

It turns out that almost no high end DVD players are designed from scratch
by their vendors. Instead, open the expensive high-end box and you just
might find a mid-fi player with a wrap of questionably-designed el-tweako
high end sanke-oil interface circuits and overbuilt power supplies. BTW, in
many cases the audio and power for most of the player goes through the
mid-fi hardware, anyhow.

I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player,

The one thing that most DVD players seem to sacrifice is the quick response
of a dedicated CD player, especially for loading discs.

because I play more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have
one unit.

Do so, and in good health!

mark e wrote:
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.


Other than the important factors of sound quality and features, the main
thing you should think about is the interface. DVD Players tend to be
built with the assumption that you will use your TV to select tracks,
program, etc, whereas the CD player makes the best use of the internal
(usually LCD) display. Of course some DVD players can be programmed
without the TV, but the interface is usually wanting and has far fewer
features than the corresponnding CD player.

CD

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:34:03 -0500, Codifus wrote:
mark e wrote:
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.


Other than the important factors of sound quality and features, the main
thing you should think about is the interface. DVD Players tend to be
built with the assumption that you will use your TV to select tracks,
program, etc, whereas the CD player makes the best use of the internal
(usually LCD) display. Of course some DVD players can be programmed
without the TV, but the interface is usually wanting and has far fewer
features than the corresponnding CD player.

Also DVD players tend to assume that you're going to use the s/pdif output.
They'll have d/a for audio output jacks, but they are usually of low
quality and are geared for the population who have only $200 to spend
on amp and speakers, or who run it into their tv and use the tv speakers.

If you have a quality surround sound preamp, then using the s/pdif output
is the way to go. No cable distortion.

I'd take a few of my favorite CDs and a good pair of headphones with
me and give a few DVD players a listen.

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 04:43:30 GMT, "mark e" wrote:

After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.

"TCS" wrote in message



Also DVD players tend to assume that you're going to use the s/pdif
output.

In practice this is a pretty fair assumption, given that the likely target
is going to the digital input of a receiver or surround processor.

They'll have d/a for audio output jacks, but they are usually of low
quality

Depends what you call low quality.

On one hand the top producer (Crystal, AKM, BB) volue pricing of commodity
audio DACs is so low its scary. You can find them in $39.95 DVD players.
OTOH, these turn out to be pretty darn good DACs with excellent dynamic
range, frequency response, and in-band group delay.

and are geared for the population who have only $200 to spend on amp and
speakers,

If you choose carelessly, that is probabaly true. I hear that SP did a
review of a cheap DVD player. I wonder which one. Note, I'm not recommending
ultra-cheap DVD players but sound quality isn't the reason why. IME they
haven't lasted.

or who run it into their tv and use the tv speakers.

Agreed that the speakers on cheap TVs can be pretty excruciating to listen
to. I use a mid fi receiver and a pair of Boston Audio CR9s, or a pair of
HD580s when I watch TV in 2-channel mode. Trouble is, I then get to hear,
all-to-well what passes for audio on the networks.

If you have a quality surround sound preamp, then using the s/pdif
output is the way to go. No cable distortion.

Exactly which flavor of cable distortion might that be?

TCS wrote:

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:34:03 -0500, Codifus wrote:

mark e wrote:

After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.



Other than the important factors of sound quality and features, the main
thing you should think about is the interface. DVD Players tend to be
built with the assumption that you will use your TV to select tracks,
program, etc, whereas the CD player makes the best use of the internal
(usually LCD) display. Of course some DVD players can be programmed
without the TV, but the interface is usually wanting and has far fewer
features than the corresponnding CD player.


Also DVD players tend to assume that you're going to use the s/pdif output.
They'll have d/a for audio output jacks, but they are usually of low
quality and are geared for the population who have only $200 to spend
on amp and speakers, or who run it into their tv and use the tv speakers.

If you have a quality surround sound preamp, then using the s/pdif output
is the way to go. No cable distortion.
I wouldn't dismiss the audio output jacks as low fi. My budget ($85)
Panasonic S-35 DVD player is connected to my stereo amplifier via the
audio jacks. The sound is so good on that player (via those "lo fi"
jacks) that it has become my primary CD player as well. I retired a
Denon CD changer I had previously.

CD

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:05:53 -0500, Codifus wrote:

I wouldn't dismiss the audio output jacks as low fi. My budget ($85)
Panasonic S-35 DVD player is connected to my stereo amplifier via the
audio jacks. The sound is so good on that player (via those "lo fi"
jacks) that it has become my primary CD player as well. I retired a
Denon CD changer I had previously.

My experience has been that DVD player analog outs are usually about
the same quality as a walkman. The finest a/d's that twenty
five cents will buy.

TCS wrote:

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:05:53 -0500, Codifus wrote:


I wouldn't dismiss the audio output jacks as low fi. My budget ($85)
Panasonic S-35 DVD player is connected to my stereo amplifier via the
audio jacks. The sound is so good on that player (via those "lo fi"
jacks) that it has become my primary CD player as well. I retired a
Denon CD changer I had previously.


My experience has been that DVD player analog outs are usually about
the same quality as a walkman. The finest a/d's that twenty
five cents will buy.

I think you're experience is quite a bit out of the ordinary. DVD
players that cost $70-200 will have DACs that easily match any of the
capabilities of most decent CD player DACs. Not only that, you can even
buy DVD-A and SACD players that can perform even better for the same
amount or not much more.

CD

"Codifus" wrote in message

TCS wrote:

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:05:53 -0500, Codifus
wrote:
I wouldn't dismiss the audio output jacks as low fi. My budget ($85)
Panasonic S-35 DVD player is connected to my stereo amplifier via
the audio jacks. The sound is so good on that player (via those "lo
fi" jacks) that it has become my primary CD player as well. I
retired a Denon CD changer I had previously.


My experience has been that DVD player analog outs are usually about
the same quality as a walkman. The finest a/d's that twenty
five cents will buy.

I think you're experience is quite a bit out of the ordinary.

I don't think he has any experience at all other than listening to his
prejudices.

DVD players that cost $70-200 will have DACs that easily match any of the
capabilities of most decent CD player DACs.

TCS apparently thinks that good converters still have to cost an arm and a
leg.

Not only that, you can
even buy DVD-A and SACD players that can perform even better for the
same amount or not much more.

DVD-A and SACD players with 100 dB dynamic range are well under $200.

If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.


I think that would be the Pioneer DV-578A-S

It is supposed to have very good D-A's, and can be had for about 80.00.

Mark Z.

"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

Will it also do WMA?

Norm

wrote in message
...

"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well
as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

Will it also do WMA?

According to this it does:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...53651?v=glance

Features:

Universal media player compatible with DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, DVD-RW,
MP3/WMA CD, and JPEG/Fujicolor/Kodak Picture CD

Progressive-scan video output renders seamless, flicker-free images on
high-definition and HD-ready TVs

24-bit/192 kHz audio digital/analog converter (DAC); 12-bit/108 MHz video
digital/analog converter (DAC)

Coaxial and optical digital-audio outputs (Dolby/DTS 5.1 passthrough),
5.1-channel analog outputs (Dolby/DTS/DVD-Audio/SACD decoding)

Measures 16.6 x 2.1 x 9.6 inches (W x H x D)



Kendall



Norm

wrote in message
...

"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well
as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

Will it also do WMA?

More details he

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...222663,00.html

Kendall



Norm

In article ,
Kendall wrote:

wrote in message
...

"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well
as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

Will it also do WMA?

More details he

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...222663,00.html

The DV-578A is an excellent player for all-region hacking; although nobody
has been able to find a do-it-yourself hack so it will cost $$$. The
player inherently supports PAL and NTSC, and does excellent conversion
between the formats - including proper downconversion of anamorphic PAL
discs to 4:3 NTSC. Get an all-region version of this player and it really
becomes a do-it-all machine.

wrote in :

"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

Will it also do WMA?

Not to be snippy, but what for? Aside from beign a proprietary closed-source
format, it's also lossy, low-fidelity, and tied to software packages which
are highly vulnerable to all sorts of malicious attacks. Do you really want a
DVD player that can be destroyed by a malicious kid with a CD burner?

--
Tired of spam in your mailbox?
Come to http://www.spamblocked.com
Who is Brad Jesness? http://www.wilhelp.com/bj_faq/
To the spammers, my motto: FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC.

mark e wrote:
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.


Any decent DVD player will play CD's with pretty much the same
quality as a CD player. The circuitry is so standardized that a
company would have to put in extra effort to lower the quality,
and why would they do that? To first order, "audiophile"=$$$ in
this case, and not much more.

The issue (as another poster pointed out), is whether you
want to go through your TV to navigate.

I have two stereo systems. One has its own CD player, other one, I use
the DVD. It sounds fine, but I find the TV interface kind of
annoying.

If you like to listen to music, it's probably worth having a
dedicated CD player.

-E

The Open Sourceror's Apprentice wrote:
wrote in :


"Jon" wrote in message
news
If you want to try an excellent budget DVD player that does CD as well as
SACD, DVD-A, MPEG, MP£ and JPEG try the Pioneer 575.

Will it also do WMA?


Not to be snippy, but what for? Aside from beign a proprietary closed-source
format, it's also lossy, low-fidelity, and tied to software packages which
are highly vulnerable to all sorts of malicious attacks. Do you really want a
DVD player that can be destroyed by a malicious kid with a CD burner?

Chances are that the malicious hack is looking for the Windows operating
system. If this hack "launches" inside a JVC or any other DVD player
playing a WMA file, it'll just up and die.

I agree with all your other points, though.

CD

"mark e" wrote in message
...
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.

One thing you sacrifice, in many cases, is the advanced sequencing and track
control available on most standalone CD players. When using my fairly high
quality Toshiba DVD for CD's, I don't even have a fast-forward function on
the front panel...just track skip.

jak

"jakdedert" wrote in message
.. .

"mark e" wrote in message
...
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy
a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD
player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I
play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.

One thing you sacrifice, in many cases, is the advanced sequencing and
track
control available on most standalone CD players. When using my fairly
high
quality Toshiba DVD for CD's, I don't even have a fast-forward function on
the front panel...just track skip.

I'd be really surprised if it didn't fast forward if you pressed and held
the "track skip" button. Most are "multi functional", where the one set of
buttons does double duty. Try it and let us know.

Kendall


jak

Kendall wrote:
"jakdedert" wrote in message
.. .

"mark e" wrote in message
...
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I
buy a high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as
a CD player? I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD
player, because I play more music than DVDs. But it would be
easier to just have one unit.

One thing you sacrifice, in many cases, is the advanced sequencing
and track control available on most standalone CD players. When
using my fairly high quality Toshiba DVD for CD's, I don't even have
a fast-forward function on the front panel...just track skip.

I'd be really surprised if it didn't fast forward if you pressed and
held the "track skip" button. Most are "multi functional", where the
one set of buttons does double duty. Try it and let us know.

How about that...learn something new every day (Many of us wouldn't be
willing to admit it, though.)

It, indeed, works as you say.

Thanks,

jak

Kendall


jak

"jakdedert" wrote in message
. ..
Kendall wrote:
"jakdedert" wrote in message
.. .

"mark e" wrote in message
...
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I
buy a high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as
a CD player? I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD
player, because I play more music than DVDs. But it would be
easier to just have one unit.

One thing you sacrifice, in many cases, is the advanced sequencing
and track control available on most standalone CD players. When
using my fairly high quality Toshiba DVD for CD's, I don't even have
a fast-forward function on the front panel...just track skip.

I'd be really surprised if it didn't fast forward if you pressed and
held the "track skip" button. Most are "multi functional", where the
one set of buttons does double duty. Try it and let us know.

How about that...learn something new every day (Many of us wouldn't be
willing to admit it, though.)

It, indeed, works as you say.

Thanks,

Glad to hear it, and you're welcome.

Kendall



jak

Kendall


jak

Yes. All dvd players will play CD, and, like many better quality CD players
produce better sound, a high end DVD player produces better video signal. P.



"mark e" wrote in message
...
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.

In article ,
"Peter" wrote:

Yes. All dvd players will play CD, and, like many better quality CD players
produce better sound, a high end DVD player produces better video signal. P.



Production of sound/video on the playback end is usually considered
distortion. A variance of the original signal in other words.



"mark e" wrote in message
...
After many years of service, I need to replace my CD player. Can I buy a
high end audiophile DVD player, and use it for double duty as a CD player?
I don't want to sacrifice the quality of a good CD player, because I play
more music than DVDs. But it would be easier to just have one unit.





As technology has gotten better, the prices have come down on quality
electronics. There are ~100$ units that playback very nicely. For those
more 'discerning' and worried, you can always toss a nice a/d onto the
back of the thing to use it as a transport only.

--
Cyrus

*coughcasaucedoprodigynetcough*