Is it worth buying CD Player?

[noobifi]

First time poster.

I only play my CD's through my DVD player through a 5.1 A/V receiver.

Is it worth getting a stand alone CD player and run it through the A/V receiver? Will this make any difference at all or am I just better off as it is.

Thanks for any advice.

[Davieboy00]

Definitely worth buying a dedicated CDP.
If you let us know your current setup and potential budget with an idea of split between music and movies priorities you should get a raft of suggestions.
Cheers.
David

[dablk]

Kind of depends on what your batting with.

I run a £500 player next to an £80 dvd player so yes I do notice the difference. IT runs "source direct" and analogue compared to digitally like the dvd player(where the amp is what gives the audio its charecteristics).

If you talking about adding a cheaper player next a reasonable dvd player and a good amp then you may not notice much difference.

I would personally always run a cdplayer alongside just purely as they are easier usually to navigate/faster to react than dvd's playing cd's.

Like all hifi its what works for you,

[evans]

cheaper av receivers arent that good at playing 2 channel music compared to a dedicated amp. Alot of people have both like me. I am also using a DVD player as a CD player as well with good DAC inside. When i bought my 2 channel amp that made a big difference in sound. I would stick with dvd player and save up for a two channel amp unless you dont listened to much music.

[CJROSS]

Originally Posted by noobifi

First time poster.

I only play my CD's through my DVD player through a 5.1 A/V receiver.

Is it worth getting a stand alone CD player and run it through the A/V receiver? Will this make any difference at all or am I just better off as it is.

Thanks for any advice.

I’d say hold off buying a CD player (ie don’t buy one !!!) until you have heard you DVD player in to a stereo amplifier, driving a pair of speaker you have specifically chosen for stereo use. FWIW I have been very surprised using my Sony AV amp (£600 rrp)*, fed by a Sony DVD player (£600)* playing CD (from DVD stereo PCM into my AV amp) when running my Diapason Emeras (£900)* and a KEF 30B sub (£500 rrp)*. Very enjoyable TBH. In fact I spent a whole evening last night listening to an old album UFOrb and hearing stuff off the sub I’d not hear in a “non full range” system like my stereo rig noted.

Don’t buy a CD player to use with a AV amp IMHO. Waster of your money.

* bought considerably less second hand !!!

[Davieboy00]

Originally Posted by CJROSS

I’d say hold off buying a CD player (ie don’t buy one !!!) until you have heard you DVD player in to a stereo amplifier, driving a pair of speaker you have specifically chosen for stereo use. FWIW I have been very surprised using my Sony AV amp (£600 rrp)*, fed by a Sony DVD player (£600)* playing CD (from DVD stereo PCM into my AV amp) when running my Diapason Emeras (£900)* and a KEF 30B sub (£500 rrp)*. Very enjoyable TBH. In fact I spent a whole evening last night listening to an old album UFOrb and hearing stuff off the sub I’d not hear in a “non full range” system like my stereo rig noted.

Don’t buy a CD player to use with a AV amp IMHO. Waster of your money.

* bought considerably less second hand !!!

Agree that it's worth listening to your DVD player as a CD source in a dedicated stereo setup you may like it - but personally I have never heard a DVD player perform anywhere near as well as a dedicated CDP at a comparable price

With regards to playing a dedicated CDP via an AV amp - gotta disagree strongly on this. I currently use an Arcam CD37 ( £1000 ) via my Arcam AVR350 reciever and it performs exceptionally well. I will concede that Arcam AV amps are much more musical than many others but without knowing the OPs gear such a sweeping statement is way to broad. Yes a dedicated stereo amp will in most cases outperform an AV amp but there are exceptions.

OP asked if a dedicated CDP would be an improvement and I would say as per my first post that yes it should be an improvement. DVD players are optimised to play DVDs , CDPs are optimised to play CDs. If the rest of the setup remains the same then I think there would be an improvement in sound reproduction.

OP - there are some valid points raised here that are worth exploring if you have the time.
All the best.
David

[noobifi]

Thanks for all the reply.

A quick run of my setup.

pioneer a/v receiver - vsx lx50
jamo 5.1 s606 (hcs6)
oppo 983 dvd player

Looking at getting a nad c515 or c525 cdp

Will it make a difference if I spend my hard earned on the cdp or will it just be a waste? I am not looking at changing anything, just curious if I will just notice a big difference if I listen to my cd's via a dedicated cdp.

Once again, thank you for all your advice.

[Mark.Yudkin]

Given your setup, I reckon it's probably not really worth your getting a separate CD player: the difference will probably be minor. If you can borrow a CD player for an in-home trial, go ahead. It won't cost anything and you can make up your own mind. Otherwise I'd suggest spending the money on CDs, since that will give you clear and immedate enjoyment.

[Matholwch]

Just sort of hijacking this thread - been listening to CDs for ages on my ageing Yamaha AV (5540RDS) via a toshiba sd-330e DVD player (yes old too).

So recently decided to buy a budget stereo amp - got myself a Cambridge Audio 340A-SE. I was thinking of gettin the Cambridge Audio 340C cd player - seeing that both are relatively cheap budget, will I notice enough difference to justify spending the £150 for the dedicated CDP?

[Mark.Yudkin]

Since your Toshiba DVD player is old, possibly. Why not arrange something with your dealer?

[dablk]

Originally Posted by Matholwch

Just sort of hijacking this thread - been listening to CDs for ages on my ageing Yamaha AV (5540RDS) via a toshiba sd-330e DVD player (yes old too).

So recently decided to buy a budget stereo amp - got myself a Cambridge Audio 340A-SE. I was thinking of gettin the Cambridge Audio 340C cd player - seeing that both are relatively cheap budget, will I notice enough difference to justify spending the £150 for the dedicated CDP?

If your comparing new cdp/amp against tosh/yama then i would suggest yes you would. Yamaha av's are generally regarded as being more vibrant with movie/sfx/dialogue than say a marantz/denon which are more music friendly. So replacing that with a stereo amp should make a noticable difference.

Now that your doing that you will probably see more benifit with adding a new cdp than using your tosh as you wont be running the tosh digitally (as a transport) but from its analogue outputs.

I used to run a tosh dvd as my main cd player and always found it a pain to control. Not to mention it will all look nice on the shelf as matching kit!

Have just noticed richer sell the 540cv2 at the same price as the 340c. Might be worth some reaserch to see which is the better model.

[evans]

I didnt think there was much difference for music between a stereo amp and av receiver until i bought an arcam a70. The arcam is more dynamic and warm than the yamaha and also there is very little if any hiss from the arcam. Long listening sessions are more enjoyable with the arcam. However for resolution the yamaha has a slight edge which i think is due to it having treble/bass controls while the arcam doesnt.

[Matholwch]

Originally Posted by dablk

If your comparing new cdp/amp against tosh/yama then i would suggest yes you would. Yamaha av's are generally regarded as being more vibrant with movie/sfx/dialogue than say a marantz/denon which are more music friendly. So replacing that with a stereo amp should make a noticable difference.

Now that your doing that you will probably see more benifit with adding a new cdp than using your tosh as you wont be running the tosh digitally (as a transport) but from its analogue outputs.

I used to run a tosh dvd as my main cd player and always found it a pain to control. Not to mention it will all look nice on the shelf as matching kit!

Have just noticed richer sell the 540cv2 at the same price as the 340c. Might be worth some reaserch to see which is the better model.

This is what happens when you look in the shop and purchase on impulse - I bought the 340A SE in black, and the 540c player comes in silver (for the same price as the 340C), hmm kicking myself for not researched the prices first. I think that if I take the amp back they'll charge me a restocking fee of £27...

[dablk]

acht the swines... I see they do it for £199 in black...I would go in a try it on. Play dumb. mention your amp which you got from them. Look at the silver one get to the point of sale then say you'll take one in black..When they mention its 50 bucks more just plough into them wanting to know the differences, is it special edition etc...make them look silly when they can only come up with ...err its black.

I would get yourself an good entry level interconnect aswell..look on the classified here...only a complete muppet can knacker an interconnect and you can pick up s/h bargains..£10 bucks would get you somthing costing 3 even 4 times the new price

Good luck

[Matholwch]

Originally Posted by dablk

I would get yourself an good entry level interconnect aswell..look on the classified here...only a complete muppet can knacker an interconnect and you can pick up s/h bargains..£10 bucks would get you somthing costing 3 even 4 times the new price

Good luck

Cheers fella!