Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Multi-disc players

I was just wondering if anybody could recommend a good multi-disc CD player. Mine is 15 years old, and I am thinking of upgrading. Also, is it really worth it to get SACD/DVD-A capabilities? I know there are cheap DVD models (I have two). I was wondering about high quality without breaking the bank. IE: under $1,000.00
Thanks!

Shane D

PS: This is strictly for music on the two channel system

Shane, assuming that you have a large CD collection, the convenience of the Sony 400 disc changer, available for around $300, can't be beat.

Shane,
Take a look at the Yamaha DVD-C750.
Multi Play, DVD, DVD-A, SACD
List is $365, you should be able to do better.
Good review here;
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/YamahaDVD-C750DVDChanger1.php
(somebody will come along and tidy that up...)
Very nice player. I like mine quite a bit.
At that price it seems kind of silly to leave SACD/DVD-A on the table.
Of course, that is if your current reciever is already configured for the 6 analog inputs required for SACD/DVD-A.
But even if it is not, you are going to buy a new reciever sooner or later, right?

Ah, just saw the 2 channel note...
And I am guessing that is why you were asking if the SACD/DVD-A was worth it.
I am sure that I will get shouted down by many here, but I actually think that the SACD/DVD-A option is well worth it, even if you are just going to listen in 2 channel.
TO ME, the saturation, depth, clarity, soundstage, ect. of the high rez formats is a noticable improvement over Redbook CDs, even in 2 channel.
(let the shouting begin- just give me a minute to go get my helmet!)
I actually spend MORE time listening to SACD/DVD-A in 2 channel than multi-channel, and have bought several SACDs that are only 2 channel recordings. The two Los Lobos on Mobile Fidelity Labs are very, very good, and the two Bill Evans Live from the Village Vanguard are great.

On the other side of the argumant, there will be plenty who will present very convincing arguments, based on the science of digital reproduction and digital transmission, why your 15 year old player is every bit as good as anything that you can buy today, and in some cases, better.

Let the shouting begin.

I just noticed a mistake, by ommission, in my above post.
For SACD/DVD-A playback, even in 2 channel, you are STILL going to need a reciever with the dedicated 6 channel analog inputs.
Hmmm... Now that I am typing this, I wonder if this is strictly true.
Has anyone out there tried to hook up just the Front left and Front right analog outputs from an SACD/DVD-A player to regular analog inputs on a reviever? And then chosen the 2 channel stereo option in the set up choices on the DVD-A or scrolled to the "stereo" choice in their SACD playback options?
The switching happens at the player, not the processor, correct?
Hmmm... a possible loophole for someone interested in the added resolution of SACD/DVD-A, but not interested in multi-channel playback and adding a new reciever and three more speakers to their 2 channel set up?

Seabear, i have hooked up my dvda to my receiver using just 2 analog inputs. You still get the high resolution format but obviously only in 2 channels. However, since the dvda format was designed for 5.1 speaker arrangement, i think you would be missing alot.
There was little if any sonic difference in playing the high resolution vs regular digital stereo discs this way.

I just replied to similar post on the HT board. So I’ll just copy that. I hate typing.

I have the Integra 8.5 (six disk universal changer). Can’t really comment on the video quality, as I have not used very many DVD players to compare it to. I have a four year old Toshiba 6200 that has as good a picture as the Integra, but I don’t really know if this is good or not. Looks good to me at any rate.

I use the Integra for CD play back only now, because I like to load up a few CD’s and let em’ spin for a few hours. But I was using it for DVD’s and CD’s for about 3 months, and it played everything flawlessly.

How about the sound quality? I only have about 200 cd's in total. I was thinking of upgrading for two reasons:
(1)I would assume that the players must be better quality now
and
(2)I want to have a carousel type when I can change cd's as needed, while one is still playing. The one I have is the cartridge type.

Shane D

I will check out the Yamaha item. I am getting a new amp (probably next week). It will be the NAD C372 2 channel. I wanted maximum power, and that room is not for home theatre. I was really wondering if it would be worth the money for SACD, for this unit. Or do people only buy them for the 5.1 set up?

Shane D

Is Integra the brand name? I read somewhere that DVD players only do an "adequate" job of playing CD's. This was probably in a magazine that says that CD players under $2,000.00 are entry level :-)
For the experts in the group, Is there any truth to it? Are pure CD players better at reproducing music than a DVD player that also happens to play CD's?

Shane D

I just checked out the Yamaha DVD-C750 and C950. Both look pretty good and the prices are reasonable. However, as I mentioned earlier, do these do as good a job on music as pieces that were built only to play audio CD's?. Are there any special specs to consider (DAC?)?

Thanks to everyone for the input!

Shane D