I actually haver a Marantz CD6004 not the 6005 as i had stated earlier .
Thinking about a new, lower end CD Player
My current CD player is a basic, older Sony, probably 10-12 years old. Works fine but I could use it in another location with a lower end system. It seems to sound about as good as my Arcam CD92 that lost its DAC a while back.
So now thinking about buying a new CDP and have a couple of questions.
I’d like to keep this in the $300-500 range for units with internal DAC. Not looking for SACD player. Other than a remote, not looking for special features or multi disk players.
I’m guessing that in this price range SQ is probably comparable to other units in that range.
First, is a CDP in this price range going to sound any better than the old Sony?
Second, if not, is there any reason not to just buy a comparable $200 unit?
Third, for units in this price range ($300-500) is there any reason to look for one with balanced output capability and if so, is there any way to know if it is truly balanced.
Thanks all,
George
So now thinking about buying a new CDP and have a couple of questions.
I’d like to keep this in the $300-500 range for units with internal DAC. Not looking for SACD player. Other than a remote, not looking for special features or multi disk players.
I’m guessing that in this price range SQ is probably comparable to other units in that range.
First, is a CDP in this price range going to sound any better than the old Sony?
Second, if not, is there any reason not to just buy a comparable $200 unit?
Third, for units in this price range ($300-500) is there any reason to look for one with balanced output capability and if so, is there any way to know if it is truly balanced.
Thanks all,
George
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uberwaltz I do hate to utter these words(lol) but..... GK does have a good point on the Sony Walkman,I use one in my second system that GK was kind enough to gift to me for the price of shipping. It actually sounds pretty darn good, very neutral and natural , no remote though! Lol. It is not a terrible idea....... jl352 any particular model recommended ? >>>>By and large all Sony Walkmans sound very good. There are others that sound good, too. It’s easier to find Sony Walkmen. They are also reliable and tend not to go belly up like some lesser brands. I modify my Walkman CD players to a certain extent. The cassette Walkman I’m using is one of those robust yellow Sports Walkman models. I am currently using the made in Japan Panasonic MASH CD player as my main player. For the CD player I am using a Perfect Path eCard, some PBW Tweaks, 2 Hz isolation, Graphene contact enhancer for batteries, and a few other tricks I have up my sleeve. Another eCard for the cassette player and Graphened batteries. I sell these modded players, full disclosure, Geoff Kait Machina Dynamica Advanced Audio Concepts we do artificial atoms right |
When referring to "SONY Walkman" are you guys talking about Walkman or Discman? Is it about cassette or CD players? geoffkait did explain his, but I am not clear about others. Also, those portable CD players did not have digital outputs that often so how are you connecting it to anything? Through headphone output or, maybe, dedicated "line out"? Some SONY Walkmen (cassette) had a problem with that thin orangey-colored film connecting sides. After repeated opening and closing, it would break and there would be no contact anymore. Sports models were particularly prone to it. As a result, screen would not work or, those that had soft-touch buttons (not Sports) even all commands would die. |
In the USA they still called the portable CD player a Walkman even though that was originally the cassette player. That is what mine says on it. In England when they came out with the portable CD player they called it and stated on it Discman to avoid confusion. And yes connection is via headphone aux to 2 RCA with a very common to obtain cable just for that purpose. |
geoffkait, I do not blame you for being less-than-informed about SONY portable electronics nomenclature. It was a long time ago that they produced these things. Most of the Discmen were actually not made specifically for a car. Those for the car usually had red CAR letters on them, came with a car kit, and were somewhat bulkier. Not that you could not use any Discman in the car, but these were marketed that way. uberwaltz, Is there any way you could find out what model you have or when it was produced? If I remember correctly, they switched from Discman to CD Walkman later in the game, maybe late 1990s? Not that it changes anything but I am as curious about it now as I was when Discman was an almost-unattainable dream for me. |
geoffkait, Here, a few pictures... https://www.google.com/search?q=car+discman&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik0... As you can see, I have no questions for you. Only some pieces of information you could use next time you want to be an expert on things you are not that good with. |
geoffkait, I really did not mean to reveal your lack of knowledge, wrong impression as you said, but you should be a little more polite. That knowledge is really useless, but, once you insist on claiming something so obviously wrong, I have to say it. You are clueless which is not that bad. Not being able to accept and think of corrections is bad. It makes you a worthless discussion participant. No, Discman was not inherently for the car. CAR Discman was marketed more for that as a way to attract more buyers who did not have a CD player in the car. In fact, at least early, advertisements did not have cars regularly in the picture. It was skateboards, park benches, many other things, but cars came a little later. I am not even sure if Walkman was ever marketed "for walking", but I will give you a pass on that one, just because of the name. I still do not know what "troll" here means, but I did pass by The Troll Shop yesterday and the first thing I thought of was....you. I am serious. Isn't it bad when your name becomes so closely associated with the word that you consider as something insulting? Find a PR expert, you need it. |
geoffkait, "I don’t remember who brought up the Discman and frankly I don’t care."You brought it all up. You even brought your preference for a cassette Walkman to the thread of a person asking for suggestions about a basic CD player. "I know you are but what am I?"Once I find the topic you can hold your ground on, I will let you know. So far, no luck but I am keeping some hope. Nobody can be inept at everything. |
glubson, you’re wrong again, I did not bring it up. If you can’t keep up with the conversation drop out. Now, you’re probably going to take this the wrong way, but it seems to me you don’t know much of anything. Just going by your words and your silly little what about this, what about that routine. No offense. For what’s it’s worth, I have a great many CD Walkman players, of which there are a great many models. I also have a bunch of cassette Walkmen. If you could hear what I hear on the Sony cassette Walkman with my ears you would have a conniption. I hope I’m not repeating myself when I say I do not buy or sell Sony Discman players as they are junk. |
"Now, you’re probably going to take this the wrong way, but it seems to me you don’t know much of anything."So far, it seems that you are the clueless one. When I do not know, I ask. You claim and it is so wrong that it is sad. Many of us feel pity for you. It is not a shame to ask, it is a shame not to know and be "all-knowing" and insulting others. I apologize if my questions make you feel uncomfortable. If you knew answers to them you would not feel this way about them. If you were at least capable of understanding any of the questions, it would already be a milestone. But...refer to the first sentence and try to learn. Even if it is about naming portable CD players. Simple and unimportant stuff that you could even grasp. You may not remember, but I do have WM FS-499 and D-421SP in a perfectly good condition. For whatever it is worth, I know how they sound. Better than expected, for sure. Far from great, though. When I get a chance, I will try connecting my Discman to amplifier. I admit I never tried that. I am curious how it is. I can tell you that portable Mini-Disc is crappy. |
glupson "Now, you’re probably going to take this the wrong way, but it seems to me you don’t know much of anything." So far, it seems that you are the clueless one. When I do not know, I ask. You claim and it is so wrong that it is sad. Many of us feel pity for you. It is not a shame to ask, it is a shame not to know and be "all-knowing" and insulting others. I apologize if my questions make you feel uncomfortable. If you knew answers to them you would not feel this way about them. If you were at least capable of understanding any of the questions, it would already be a milestone. But...refer to the first sentence and try to learn. Even if it is about naming portable CD players. Simple and unimportant stuff that you could even grasp. You may not remember, but I do have WM FS-499 and D-421SP in a perfectly good condition. For whatever it is worth, I know how they sound. Better than expected, for sure. Far from great, though. When I get a chance, I will try connecting my Discman to amplifier. I admit I never tried that. I am curious how it is. I can tell you that portable Mini-Disc is crappy. >>>>>You probably won’t like this either but I’m filing all that under Who Cares? Find someone else to work your infantile Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby routine on. |
2psyop George (OP)will probably never come back to this thread. He probably never intended to get another budget CDP. The suggestion to use a portable CDP (Walkman, Discman, Funkman or whatever) to connect to his stereo. I think that is more in line with what a 13 year old boy from the 80’s might do. WTF? Whoa! Did I just see 666 posts for 2cyclops? Is he about to summon Satan? 👁 |
Actually 2psyop I would not blame the OP at all for never returning here after it has been trashed yet again. However not for the reasoning you suggest. Your assertion that connecting a Sony Walkman cd player is for 13 year olds in the 80,s is complete tosh if I may be so bold as to say so. Try it before you diss it! I did and was and am still very happy with the SQ. Mine is connected via its headphone/aux out by a cable that is stereo aux to 2 rca analog. Later models may have had digital out but certainly not the earlier Walkmans. |
Fair enough. With an eye turned toward education, sharing musical enjoyment and experimentation and experience..someone here, including the OP can buy a used Sony Walkman and connect it to their home stereo. I am all for that. here is one for sale on eBay right nowhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Barbie-For-Girls-Disc-Portable-CD-Player-Mattel-Pink-Walkman-Toy/1133430681... Well under budget, that’s a good thing. Don't let your granddaughter find it, she might just steal it....if she knows what it is!?!? |
Good things come in small packages. No power cords, no interconnects, no f@#$& up house AC, no fuses, no speaker cables. And none of the distortion those things bring to the table. No real estate Issues or room acoustics crap to deal with, either. And the money you save on all of that crap you can spend on beer 🍺 Big things have small beginnings. |
Of course it should be pointed out that these little Walkman dudes do need a little help to sound their best. Otherwise they tend to sound kind of generic. But they can achieve a surprisingly high level if you put a little effort into it. So there are a number of things I do. The very first thing I do is... |
Got the Arcam home this afternoon and it sounds fine to me through the Schiit Modi 2 Uber. Can't really tell the difference between it and the Sony....and never could tell a big difference between the Sony and the Arcam when it was fully functional either. The original problem with the Sony is back and I consider it trash at this point. Net result: 1. Arcam as transport via Schiit in hi-fi system. 2. No CDP for low end system at the cabin. Game plan now: Keep Arcam as transport for hi-fi. Consider upgrading the Modi 2 Uber to a Multibit or BiFrost (or other comparable DAC) at some point since that will, presumably, yield SQ benefits for my music server (iMac) and streaming as well. Skip CDP for cabin for now and just play off iPhone or laptop there. Pick up a cheap CDP if the opportunity arises. |
Well I guess it all depends on what you decide is your budget for a cheap cdp. At any given time there are literally hundreds of good 80,s and 90,s cdp on eBay going for relative peanuts. I still have and use an old Samsung bluray player in a bedroom system just taking the optical output so using as a transport. And it sounds better than it has any right to for the grand sum of $21 shipped a few years back! |
CD92 with the 'ring' DAC (the part which isn't working). The odd thing is that it will play through the DAC/RCA outputs for maybe a minute when you first turn it on then it gets all garbled up and quits playing altogether. We do have some Goodwill and consignment type shops around and I will keep an eye out for something. |
OP, if you can find a TASCAM CD-200b used for $89 or $99, get it. I'm using its bigger brother, the 500b and it sounds great. MSRP is $499 and I got it on eBay in "like new" condition, which fortunately ended up being accurate, for $189. I am stepping up to a very good transport since I'm feeding a nice DAC with the TASCAM, but I'm keeping the TASCAM as a backup or possibly for use upstairs down the road. TASCAM is owned by TEAC, who also owns Esoteric. Not saying they're comparable, but there's a good lineage there. The 200b is a tray load, my 500b is a slot load. It does sound better as a transport but even its internal DAC sounds fine. It decodes pre-emphasis too, if that's any concern. And as someone who fits the stereotype of a near-millenial who should only listen through his phone, Tidal, or a streamer? Physical media all day, especially in a setting designed around listening. |
Every CD player I've owned have been used and still is working after 20 + years! I only bought a different one because it could decode HDCD's and in my opinion they sound incredible. I have a DTI and DAC to process the signal sent to the pre-amp and into the High Current Amplifier. I prefer older equipment to the new ones which are light and feel cheap compared to the ones I'm used to using. Plus the new equipment is more expensive than I can afford and I haven't heard anything at my price point that will touch my system and I have less that a thousand dollars into everything! It's amazed how much difference the DTI and DAC makes in the music details and sound stage on any CD player or transport. This equipment new would have cost nearly five or six thousand and I can't spend that kind of money! My Audio Alchemy's are still pumping a fantastic sound into my Kef Reference speakers which are easily twenty years old as well. |
There are some great deals on EBay if you take your time and keep watching for someone that's upgrading there system. I'm very happy and friends are amazed when they come to my house and hear the amazing music details they've never heard before. Concerts are so expensive now tickets that used to cost $5 -$7.50 are now hundreds of dollars to hear the drunks around you singing! I guess I've seen almost every musician I have ever wanted to see and some are no longer with us except on recordings! BB King, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, The Beatles, The Dead, The Allman Brothers ,Jefferson Airplane and many others are getting old like me! L |
I've had three CD players in my lifetime. All three have had a failure of some sort but all have approached the 20 year old range. I'm not sure how old this most recent Sony was. It came new in the box from my uncle's estate but had been sitting around for years. Then it lived in my cabin for close to 15 years in which the temperature inside was the same as the temp outside unless we were there. Low teens to over 100. So not an easy life. I also don't know how old the Arcam is. It sat in a musty basement for a number of years and got moved around a lot. Of course it is still functioning as a transport. So I can't really complain. My system is also older. Maybe 15 years, maybe more. Right now I could not afford to replace it at the current SQ. I think it was probably $15k when new. Sometimes I wonder how much it would cost to replace it if I did a lot of research and hunted for bargains. |
A lot of the Denon, Pioneer and Sony DVD CD players from the 2000s sound great for CDs. I have the Denon DVD-9000 DVD CD player an this Denon sounds great on CDs. This Denon DVD-9000 is really built. I also like the Sony DVP-S9000ES DVD CD Player. There were a lot of good Denon BluRay, DVD CD players that sounded real good for CDs. Denon DVD-2500BTCI, DENON DVD-3910 DENON DVD-5910, Denon DVD-5900. 2 very good Pioneer DVD CD player that you can get for under 100 dollars that sounds good on CDs is Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai, PIoneer DV-37. Both of these players were nicely built. |