A DVD player that gives good CD sound?

[admin_exported]

I know it is a compromise, but is there a good DVD player that produces good quality sound when playing CD's? It will be going through a Sony STR-DA2400es reveiver. Do Blue Ray players play CD's, and if so would this be a better way to go? 

 

[John Duncan]

There are, and the first one I'd think of is the Arcam DV135 available from Superfi for £300. And there's always the Naim DVD5 for two and a half grand......

However, there are other options like adding a DAC to a DVD or Blu Ray player, so it depends on your budget - how much did you want to spend?

 

[Anonymous]

I was aiming to spend about £300, if possible, but could go to about £500 or so, if the extra outlay is definitely worth it.ÿ

 

[John Duncan]

Then I would investigate the DV135 - it's a proper CD player as well as a good DVD player - the review on here refers, but note that it was at the original £900 price. If I needed a player to do both, I'd have one like a shot.

Alternatively, you could get a hi-def player like a Panasonic or Sony Blu Ray player for £300, and add a DACMagic for CD replay - I'd actually expect this to sound a bit better for CDs, but it's more expensive and more of a palaver, though more versatile (adding better sound for other sources, adding high def capability etc).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your advice. I have not heard of the DACMagic so will look into that and decide which way to go out of your suggestions, unless anyone else comes up with alternatives. Cheers.

 

[John Duncan]

DACMagic heavily touted here (there's one in my drawer currently, waiting for the best moment to be introduced home). And the latest review by a *very* high end magazine called it 'revelatory'.

But I'm biased, wait for other views...

 

[Anonymous]

Assuming that you will hook your dvd player to an AV receiver, IMO all Cambridge Audio DVD players are adept at music. I have an old CA dvd57 which I use to play cds until now and I have compared it to a dedicated Sony CDP-XE370 cd player and could not hear the difference. Sometimes the Cambridge Audio sounds even better. I even asked Mr. Everard about upgrading to a Marantz CD5003 or 6002 cd player but he replied by saying that I should stick to the CA DVD player. Perhaps the improvement is not huge or the result would be the same. I reckon that a dedicated cd player will work best if you partner it to a dedicated amplifier not to an AV receiver.

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:There are, and the first one I'd think of is the Arcam DV135 available from Superfi for £300. And there's always the Naim DVD5 for two and a half grand......However, there are other options like adding a DAC to a DVD or Blu Ray player, so it depends on your budget - how much did you want to spend?

I bought an Arcam DV135 fairly recently to use as my main CD player and also use I occasionally for DVD's. It plays CD & SACD discs as well as all the various DVD formats as well and I can honestly say that the performance is astounding. I have rigged it up via my Roksan Caspian amp and it is quite staggering (my mates have said he same thing) and the best part is - I believe Superfi still have some for £300 (this is where I bought mine for the same price). IMHO this is the best bargain I'm every likely to find with regards toÿHi-Fi unless someone gives me a Roksan Caspian CD player for nothing ! (I can live in hope`)ÿ