Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

WHart · Feb 23, 2006, 07:18 PM

Generally which sounds better? Are CD home changers made to sound better on audio CDs than a DVD player that will also play them?

I hope this isn't a dumb question. I'm new to digital audio.

WH

analogika · Feb 23, 2006, 07:41 PM

depends entirely on how good the digital-analog converters in either device are, and on the quality of the drive mechanism (though less so).

dlefebvre · Feb 24, 2006, 07:58 AM

Usually low price home CD player have poor digital/analog converter. So if you have a DVD player hooked to your amp using optical or coax (a RCA digital out connector) and if the CD player is connected using the analog outputs, then the DVD player will definitely sound better.

If you have a digital out (optical or coax) on your CD player and both players are connected using the digital outputs, you should hear no perceptible difference.

WHart · Feb 24, 2006, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by dlefebvre

Usually low price home CD player have poor digital/analog converter. So if you have a DVD player hooked to your amp using optical or coax (a RCA digital out connector) and if the CD player is connected using the analog outputs, then the DVD player will definitely sound better.

If you have a digital out (optical or coax) on your CD player and both players are connected using the digital outputs, you should hear no perceptible difference.

Hi,

Thank you for your replies.
Do you think an Onkyo AV receiver would sound better than my Adcom and NAD separates? Some say it would. If it will I'd like to go digital.

My separates sound nice with CD player but maybe the new technology will sound better.

Thanks again.

WH

Todd Madson · Feb 24, 2006, 02:09 PM

I've actually got an Onkyo DVD player and the digital to analog
converters in that thing sound great no matter what type of disc
I'm playing it thru. I tried to abscond with it for my monitoring
setup in the basement until a DVD player upstairs crapped out
so it's back in the home theater upstairs.

An audio CD played thru that player sounds terrific.
A DVD audio disc played thru that player sounds stunning.
Whoever designed the D-A circuitry in that thing got it right.

I've even played some of my own masters thru it and it got my
seal of approval. Great sounding.

I've yet to use the digital out on it because I need an absurdly
long toslink cable to make it to the home theater amp.

Anyway, why don't you A-B and listen for yourself? I also have
a very nice Denon CD player that sounds particularly fine that
is great, but not quite as "nice" sounding as that Onkyo. But the
Denon sounds better than most other CD players I've tried.

WHart · Feb 24, 2006, 04:07 PM

Hi Todd,

The only home CD player I've ever had is JVC and I bought that based on the 107db S/N ratio and their reputation for making good stuff. I got the single well JVC CD player in 1995 and it has been a real good player for me. I recently got a great deal on a nice used JVC XL-FZ158 BK 5 CD changer but I have not heard it play yet.

I've been working on recording my 650 record collection onto an iRiver 256 MB MP3 player and transferring it to my PC, converting it to MP3 and burning them to CDs. To play the MP3 CDs I've been using a $40 Coby DVD player that I hitched up to my audio system for this purpose, as the JVC doesn't play MP3 CDs. It really sounds pretty darn good, even though the sales person said I lost all kinds of frequencies in the MP3 conversion... I think it's better than having to get up and change the record every 20 minutes of so.

I can get 12 hours or so of good quality recordings on one CD. Digital audio is really neat.

I'll try out the Onkyo unit and I'll see how it does.
I'm going to let my ears be the judge. My NAD 214 with Adcom GTP-350 Pre is a sweet sounding setup. Perhaps the analog connections will sound better.

JR

WHart · Feb 24, 2006, 04:39 PM

Sorry about the dupe.

WHart · Feb 24, 2006, 04:40 PM

PS - I had bought the Coby DVD player to use with my TV to watch DVDs but it seemed to screw up a few of the TV stations so I stopped using it for that. Then I tried to sell it online but couldn't get enough $$ for it so I stored it and got it out again recently when I realized it plays MP3 CDs. Surprising sound for an inexpensive unit.

JR