CD player (again)

[Darrell1972]

Looking for a CD player so I can play my cds again! It will be going through my Loewe tv and sub to the surround speakers.
I’m a bit ignorant on these things so be gentle with me...
I want a good quality player without spending more than €300 if possible. I keep seeing offers on older discontinued models such as Pro-Ject cd box S and Denon cds50 or do I go for a Marantz 5005...?
I prefer a minimal look without all the extras. I just want good quality cd playback without the need for an extra amp etc.

 

[Al ears]

Looking for a CD player so I can play my cds again! It will be going through my Loewe tv and sub to the surround speakers.
I’m a bit ignorant on these things so be gentle with me...
I want a good quality player without spending more than €300 if possible. I keep seeing offers on older discontinued models such as Pro-Ject cd box S and Denon cds50 or do I go for a Marantz 5005...?
I prefer a minimal look without all the extras. I just want good quality cd playback without the need for an extra amp etc.

Does that tv have a suitable amplifier then?

 

[Darrell1972]

Hi. Like I said I’m a bit useless in this regard. I’ve only had plug and play systems before and then the Media Centre which was connected via HDMI. I was just assuming I could connect a CD player into the tv connections and play it through that.
It’s the Loewe Individual with Loewe sub and Loewe floor mounted speakers which is obviously fairly good if not slightly dated kit.

 

[MentorRon]

It's honestly difficult to just recommend a player, new or used, IMHO. I have found that the various players I have auditioned in my 3 systems match one system but not the other. A lot of this may be psychological, but the perceived effect is there never the less. Some folk will go for the absolute best cost-wise; others will be more reasonable and money smart. I run 2 stereo systems and one 5.1 A/V system. The equipment runs from 1980s to some things bought in the 2000s. The latter is mainly for the 5.1, such as a Samsung Blu-Ray player and a Denon 5.1 receiver. The stereo systems have a 1980s Sony CD player CDP-950 with the old Philips TDA-1541 DAC, for which I have not found a newer product that makes any meaningful difference. You may read this: https://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/history_of_the_Philips_tda_d_a_converter/ ). My 2ndary stereo system also has an old (1990) Sony CDP-490 with dual Burr-Brown DACs. I have tried the two 1-bit CD player DACs from Sony (HDLC-Pulse) and Philips (Bitstream) in various 5-disc changers from Sony and Marantz, plus one from JVC (P.E.M. DAC). My conclusion is that I hate 1-bit players, so am sticking with these 16-bit players. As the expression goes, your mileage may vary ;-)
You may get a bunch of conflicting advice dependent on each users' experience and beliefs, but at least you have my 2 cents worth. Photos: 1st 2 are my current 16-bit 1 disc players. the 3rd is one of the Sony 1-bit 5 disc changers I hated. Don't have a photo of the 1-bit Marantz as I stored it away. It was the ONLY 1-bit player I could bear to tolerate in my 2ndary system for a while. The CDP-490 beat it hands down.
In current players at reasonable cost I would probably choose one with a Wolfson DAC, such as the Cambridge shown below if I had $$$ to spend ;-) (Canadian price $549).

 

[Gray]

I see that WHF reviewed a (26") Loewe TV in 2008 and said it had 'fantastic sound'.
Just as well as the set cost more than £1500

Assuming you've got an aux input for the sound Darrell, what sort of connector is it? RCA sockets? 3.5mm stereo socket?
Or maybe you've got some sort of digital input (optical is likely)?

 

[Darrell1972]

Hi,
Thanks for the gentle replies so far. It was an expensive set up when I bought it ex display about 10 years ago. Quality lasts as they say...🤞🤞
Here’s the photos of the connections, please excuse the dust!

 

[Darrell1972]

Why can’t I attach a photo?

 

[Darrell1972]

I see that WHF reviewed a (26") Loewe TV in 2008 and said it had 'fantastic sound'.
Just as well as the set cost more than £1500

Assuming you've got an aux input for the sound Darrell, what sort of connector is it? RCA sockets? 3.5mm stereo socket?
Or maybe you've got some sort of digital input (optical is likely)?

It’s got a series of audio in/out sockets as well as hdmi

 

[Gray]

Why can’t I attach a photo?

If you type 'photo types' into the search box above, you'll see a thread from someone else who was having trouble.

 

[Darrell1972]

Thanks

 

[nopiano]

Do you play DVDs or Blu-ray Discs, as most players will happily play CD too.

 

[Darrell1972]

Not really. I was originally going to go down the blu ray route but thought a dedicated cd player was better. I must admit a blu ray into the hdmi would be simpler

 

[Gray]

Thanks

Yes plenty of RCA sockets.
You're only interested in white (left) and red (right) inputs.
Can't quite see but it looks like it says 'audio digital in out'?
Probably optical.
That would give you the choice of using analogue or digital out of a CD player, by using twin RCA plug to plug lead, or a TOSLINK optical digital connection to connect to the TV.

(If you got a manual with it, that would explain the connectors).

 

[Darrell1972]

Ok great, so I don't need a separate amp? So what's the concensus on the models I mentioned? Older higher end or newer used or something completely different...?

 

[Gray]

Ok great, so I don't need a separate amp? So what's the concensus on the models I mentioned? Older higher end or newer used or something completely different...?

Take your pick.
A CD player is a transport, to spin / read the disc.
And a DAC (digital to analogue converter).
If you connect a player digitally via an optical cable, the DAC in your TV will be doing the conversion from digital to analogue.
In that case, the DAC in the player wouldn't be being used.
So you could even just go for something like this, which is a transport only:

6000CDT

The 6000CDT is a dedicated CD transport incorporating the same slot-loading mechanism as audiolab’s flagship CD player, the 8300CD. Extremely robust and reliable, it uses a read-ahead digital buffer to reduce disc-reading failures, able to play scratched and damaged CDs that are unreadable by...

www.audiolab.co.uk

I've even dug you out a review - the sort of review I read myself and think "I want one of those" when I know perfectly well that I don't need one.

Audiolab 6000CDT

Funny how fashions come and go. A separate CD transport and DAC was the coolest thing on the planet in the late eighties, almost more impressive than having a brick-sized cellular portable telephone or hot hatchback with the letters GTi emblazoned on the back. Then, 10 years later, few seemed...

www.hifichoice.com

 

[Darrell1972]

Looks great, but more than I wanted to spend really. What started off at €60 for a Sony blu ray has somewhat escalated...

 

[DCarmi]

If the TV manual I looked at is the correct one, you should have a co-axial (single round connection) digital input. Also a pair of RCA inputs (usual hifi connection, labelled audio in). Note that the cables are not interchangeable. I'd try the RCA connection first as the cables will be in the CD box.

I have a cd5005, which I do like. But it is a large and weighty device.

Not sure which Denon you are referring to but the Pro-Ject is dinky compared to the CD5005. Both have RCA and Co-axial connections (CD5005 also has a Toslink out connection).

Given your desire for a minimalist approach and that you are looking for a CD player solution, probably the Pro-Ject.

 

[Darrell1972]

The Denon is the Dcd 50 which is used but half price from a high end retailer with original packaging etc. I do like the Pro-ject but was curious if it was too old to buy a new one so to speak as it’s quite an old model.

 

[Gray]

Looks great, but more than I wanted to spend really. What started off at €60 for a Sony blu ray has somewhat escalated...

Yes, is a bit much, some would say way over the top to put through a TV, no matter how good its sound is meant to be.
(Though it might suit any future upgrades).

All you really need is something mechanically reliable.
If the TV is doing the DAC, then any cheap, secondhand CDP with a digital output will do you.

 

[DCarmi]

The vintage of the device is less important than the quality. The CD format is largely unchanged for years, excepting perhaps SA-CD and ability to play MP3, FLAC etc formats (and even then we are talking decades), and DAC quality/capability.

As Gray says, an inexpensive second hand device would work well enough.

It is also worth looking at bluray players as they will also play CDs. There are inexpensive models, which do SA-CD, FLAC, which I'd have thought would be better suited to your type of system, regardless if you never intend to play DVD or Bluray. They'd probably set up back under £100 and just plug in via HDMI.

 

[Darrell1972]

I’ve seen the cheap blu ray players but also heard some shocking reviews about the quality from even the Sony and Panasonic ones.

 

[iMark]

We bought a Sony UHP-H1 a couple of years ago to play Bluray discs, SACD and our 5 DVD-Audio discs. It's a very good CD player too. It's one of the last ones that has stereo analogue out.

If you look for second hand equipment you could also look at Pioneer universal DVD players from over 10 years ago.

 

[Darrell1972]

If budget was a major issue I’d be scouting the second hand market but I’d rather not risk it. I’ve not got pots to spend but would like a new product if possible

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi. For what it's worth, I think the quality of a good CD player would be waisted if you're not playing it through a proper stereo setup, and a dvd/blu-ray player would be more than enough.

 

[Darrell1972]

Hi,
I agree totally that it’s not worth me spending a fortune on a set up. Like I said earlier in the thread, it started off with a €60 Sony blu ray player but I was put off by the quality issues, hence the reason I’ve moved on to a good quality but simple CD player.