Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo How much difference does a good CD player make ??

I am thinking of buying a new CD player and am looking at the NAD C542. I believe it is their newest model and I have seen some decent prices for it. I am using the Pioneer model that plays DVD-Audio and SACD's and about everything else along with being a DVD player. I forget the model number. Is there a big difference between a stand alone CD player for sound as opposed to an all in one like I have?? I have heard different views and I'm wondering if it would be worth it to purchase the NAD for around 350.00 or go with what I have.
Thanks in advance.......

And now you'll hear differeing views again.

How about this, buy the NAD and try it out and if you don't like it, take it back. But either way post back and let us know if you did hear any differences.

I think you will but that is my opinion only.

I'm sure many people will disagree with me, but IMO for music listening you probably won't hear much difference(if any). Check out the thread I'd posted under Advice from Axiom Owners regarding DAC, I can NOT hear any difference when compared my computer to the Sony DVD/CD player I bought from BestBuy, most DVD or CD Players have bunch of added "cool features" that are absolutely irrelevant to SQ and you don't really need those bell and whistles anyway, if you really into those stuff then go for it, it wouldn't hurt to buy one and try them for yourself. otherwise you better off stick with your current unit, unless it's broken.

IMHO, You'll get your money worthwhile and achive better SQ/Sonic improvement through amp/receiver upgrade oppose to the CD player.

I'm on the other side of the boat. I think an upgrade will be more worthwhile if you replace a CD player rather than an amp. I've tried 4 different players and they didn't sound exactly the same. In fact, the oldest, probably most least expensive player sounded the best to me, which is why I still use it. The differences were small and musically engaging (which you can't measure), but there all the same.

Todd, limiting the reply just to your specific question, i.e. does a stand alone CD player have some advantage over a CD/DVD/etc. player for playing CDs, the answer is definitely not. The CD player uses a laser with a wavelength of 780nm, which is optimum for playing CDs. The combination player uses a dual laser, 780nm for CDs, and 650nm which is optimum for DVDs/DVD-As/SACDs. Each type of disc is therefore read at the optimum wavelength required; no "compromise" which is sometimes claimed is involved.

The only thing you'd gain would be less wear and tear on a more expensive multi-format player.

Assuming you're using the digital outs (TOSlink or SPDIF - or as they're otherwise known - digital optical and digital coaxial) - it's pretty tough to come up with sound quality reasons to go to a high-end player.

Again, a bit of perspective to help see through the hype - you're sitting in front of a computer with a CD-ROM drive - just did a quick search here... a 52x LG is about $30CDN - which, even considering it doesn't supply its own power or have a screen (add a few bucks for a transformer and LED readout to put it on par with a home audio component CDP) would still make it the cheapest possible alternative, almost laughable as to build quality. How often does a CD-ROM have a read error in data? Even a single misread bit would make an application go berzerk... say the difference between a PUSH opcode and a POP opcode. If the odd little putty-coloured drive beside your knee there is of high enough quality to read data that has to be bit perfect at 16x the rate that an audio CD is read at, what's the big concern about whether or not a $160 CDP can do its job?

Bren R.

You won't hear much difference going in the same range level of gear. Your Pio will sound no difference than the NAD. If you want to hear a little bit of difference you need to look at players above the $1200+ or a different configuration CD player such one with a tubed output CD players.
For those who have "actually" tried to put their sub $500 multidisk players vs a $1500+ player and still said there is not much of a difference should get their ears and brains examined. Or the speakers they own are not articulate enough to convey that extra information.

Once again I disagree. My Denon 2815 sounds vastly different then my Denon 2800MKII when it comes to CD quality. The 2800 is by far and away a better transport. Hell it doesn't even play SACD or DVDA and the 2815 does DVDA and it still sounds better.

What's next in here, a $99.00 WalMArt DVD player is as good as a $1000.00 one?

In reply to:

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What's next in here, a $99.00 WalMArt DVD player is as good as a $1000.00 one?

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Actually, yes.
Although it is possible that the transport mechanism may sound different, perhaps even more quiet, but it is obvious that the home testing of these units is once again brutally flawed.
Placebo pill anyone?