AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
Why not rip them all to hard-drive? You can then stream them at home, and transfer them to smartphone/portable player to listen in the car, or on the move.
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Cayin Mini-CD MKII CD Player Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
The Mimik was Linn's "budget" player at the time; the Ikemi was their top offering and cost about double. I hope it measured better.
I never owned a Linn CD player but love their stuff from that era. I still use a Kremlin, Kolektor and Klout (and Isobarik, LP12, etc.)
DanielT
Master Contributor
Thanks for the test Amir.
I wonder how a Blu-ray player would perform if used with its digital output together with a decent DAC? I use that combo sometimes. A Sony BDP-S570 together with a Topping E30 DAC. I then use the optical output from the Sony player. I also wonder if there would be any difference between the optical and
and the coax output? Measurable difference that is. For me, there would most certainly not be any audible difference, but it would still be fun to see such a test.
VintageFlanker may have tests underway, he writes this in #47 in the thread I link to below:
I happen to have an old (2011-2012) Sony BD player with a coax output somewhere. I also bought the little SMSL C100 for testing (spoilers: which is doing great), so I could try something on that side.
audiosciencereview.com
I listen to CDs sometimes to vary with streaming mostly because it's a bit fun fiddling with a physical medium (it can be a bit because of nostalgia too) plus other aspects that tonycollinet in #22 and Mulder in #26 of this thread highlight.
I wonder how a Blu-ray player would perform if used with its digital output together with a decent DAC? I use that combo sometimes. A Sony BDP-S570 together with a Topping E30 DAC. I then use the optical output from the Sony player. I also wonder if there would be any difference between the optical and
and the coax output? Measurable difference that is. For me, there would most certainly not be any audible difference, but it would still be fun to see such a test.
VintageFlanker may have tests underway, he writes this in #47 in the thread I link to below:
I happen to have an old (2011-2012) Sony BD player with a coax output somewhere. I also bought the little SMSL C100 for testing (spoilers: which is doing great), so I could try something on that side.
Rotel DT-6000 Review & Measurements (CD Player / DAC)
@Toku The history of Rotel is long and storied. The business started because an American wanted to export TV sets to Japan is the early days of colour television (1950s). America was the leaders in this space and Rotel was tasked with doing the voltage conversion for a company called Sylvania...
audiosciencereview.com
I listen to CDs sometimes to vary with streaming mostly because it's a bit fun fiddling with a physical medium (it can be a bit because of nostalgia too) plus other aspects that tonycollinet in #22 and Mulder in #26 of this thread highlight.
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AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
What would a reasonable price? Does it need to play to a DAC or just allow ripping to a computer?
I use to own a Majik I (first gen, same design than the Mimik here)
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
I think Denon and TEAC did this best. We now use a Denon CEOL Piccolo in our second system.
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
I never stopped. I buy new albums on CD and old ones used on ebay, etc. I don't play them but rip them for streaming, while still having "hard copy" backups. They also get copied to iPhone for playing in the car, etc.
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
Hipster Doofus
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Enjoyed the review, especially the comparison and historical prospective (albeit only a few years). It is fun to see what we have payed in the DOLLAR / SINAD scale over the years. And on a green note, it too early for these cool devices to head for the boneyard … I have enjoyed living in the secondary market of the audio world for most of my time. So knowing how they preform helps me hone in on true bargains, even if it mostly the cool factor. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR LINN
Jimmyblues1959
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Nice review Amir. I always enjoy when you do comparative reviews between vintage audio equipment and newer gear.
Seeing the Mimic brings back nice memories. I still have the Linn Classik M CD/receiver that I purchased in 2002. A nice sounding piece of gear in its day, and with a relatively small footprint.
JeremyFife
Major Contributor
Funny how things change... I used to have a mid-level Rega CD (around 500 GBP, described by what hi-fi as 'analogue sounding ' ). Now I rip the few CDs I buy and wouldn't dream of spending more than 100 or so if I wanted a player - and only as a transport.
On this though, it's ok - seems well made but basically Meh. I'd have reliability concerns about the slot loading mechanism.
Interesting review, thank you.
). Now I rip the few CDs I buy and wouldn't dream of spending more than 100 or so if I wanted a player - and only as a transport.On this though, it's ok - seems well made but basically Meh. I'd have reliability concerns about the slot loading mechanism.
Interesting review, thank you.
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
Anyone got a CD12 they could send to Amir?Enjoyed the review, especially the comparison and historical prospective (albeit only a few years). It is fun to see what we have payed in the DOLLAR / SINAD scale over the years. And on a green note, it too early for these cool devices to head for the boneyard … I have enjoyed living in the secondary market of the audio world for most of my time. So knowing how they preform helps me hone in on true bargains, even if it mostly the cool factor. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR LINN
i have a whole slew of PC optical devices... literally giant fruit boxes full of sata dvdrom, dvdrws. cdroms and even BR devices... i used to work for some secure factilities and we had to remove opitcal units and even block off USB ports for obvious reasons... and so some of these wound up at my place
be that as it may i treat optical devices as dying species... i take the opportunity to rip to flac NOW while i still have working optical drives and a copy of CDEx.
i'm never buying any more optical readers, nor will i likely burn another disc but i do have a heap of spare dvd players i can call upon if needed
they all have some form of digital out and one would think they cant be that bad????
be that as it may i treat optical devices as dying species... i take the opportunity to rip to flac NOW while i still have working optical drives and a copy of CDEx.
i'm never buying any more optical readers, nor will i likely burn another disc but i do have a heap of spare dvd players i can call upon if needed
they all have some form of digital out and one would think they cant be that bad????
Interesting discussion on how we differ in the ways we like to listen to music.
I ripped all my CDs and then gave them away to a charity (local coast guard) as I didn't play them. I tended to only listen to my favourite tracks and made playlists to suit what I was doing - chilling out, road trips, sailing, dinner party etc. More recently I find the convenience, quality and variety of "Tidal Connect" suits my needs perfectly. I use my phone as a remote and stream to an old Sonos connected through SPDIF into a Benchmark DAC2 & Hypex Amp.
I kept my 300 vinyl albums as I didn't know how to digitally store them (I also thought they maybe valuable one day). As it turns out my 24 year old son loves playing them.
For those enjoying playing CDs and are concerned about playback quality can I suggest the only thing you need to ensure is that the transport is "bit perfect" and then connect the optical or coaxial (SPDIF) out to an inexpensive SMSL or Topping DAC and you are good to go.
I ripped all my CDs and then gave them away to a charity (local coast guard) as I didn't play them. I tended to only listen to my favourite tracks and made playlists to suit what I was doing - chilling out, road trips, sailing, dinner party etc. More recently I find the convenience, quality and variety of "Tidal Connect" suits my needs perfectly. I use my phone as a remote and stream to an old Sonos connected through SPDIF into a Benchmark DAC2 & Hypex Amp.
I kept my 300 vinyl albums as I didn't know how to digitally store them (I also thought they maybe valuable one day). As it turns out my 24 year old son loves playing them.
For those enjoying playing CDs and are concerned about playback quality can I suggest the only thing you need to ensure is that the transport is "bit perfect" and then connect the optical or coaxial (SPDIF) out to an inexpensive SMSL or Topping DAC and you are good to go.
Corvuscorone
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I have the Audiolab CDT-6000 cd transporter connected optically or coaxially to the Topping DX3 pro plus and some recordings sound better from cds than from Tidal or Qobuz via the Chromecast audio connected optically to the same Topping dac.
I gave it a try :
I burned my own test CD
UPDATE:
After further check, the results below are not correct.
The test files on the CD I created contained too much distortion.
Only the last result, from the test file on USB stick, shows correct values.
(You may now find why in this new post.)
Then I measured the output of an old Philips CD604 CD player
(which has some issues)
I think that was the cheapest of all the Philips full size CD players at the time (1991 or so)
From what I could find, it was costing 130 GBP at the time.
SINAD
997Hz 0dBFS
Left: Analog output
Right: SPDIF output
We are not at the same level on the analog output, for sure.
But the 90.4dB SINAD in digital is similar to Amir's measurements
He measured 90.6dB SINAD on the SPDIF out above :
Also interesting is that this figure for digital output seems to be limited by distortion rather than noise.
Another attempt with a more serious contender
The NAD M50 Streamer and CD transport was around 2500€ at launch
(I bought it second hand)
It has no analog output. Therefore, the measurement here is just digital output.
We get the exact same figure than above.
It may be a limitation of my Test CD ?
So I tried another test signal, generated by AP tool (Reference 0dBFS 997Hz), that I also included on the test CD
SINAD figure is slightly better (0.8dB)
So the 90.4 is the limitation of my first test signal, obviously.
Knowing this, I re-ran the same signal on the Philicps CD604 and got the exact same figure from the digital out.
(I also re-ran the test with Analog output, but, unfortunately, that didn't bring any benefit vs the measurement above)
The fact both reach exactly the same result brings again the question:
Is the limitation due to my test CD ?
Interestingly, the M50 being a streamer,
I may play directly the file with the test signal from a USB stick :
We now get what we expected.
And a massive 15dB improvement on THD.
In my above measurements, we see the impact of the CD itself
The degradation is either due to the quality of my test CD-R or to my engraver (it's getting old) or to the player or...
Or, more likely, something I don't understand.
Yet.
Update: Now I know why !
Read on here
(Also have a look at other 16 bits measurements here)
I burned my own test CD
UPDATE:
After further check, the results below are not correct.
The test files on the CD I created contained too much distortion.
Only the last result, from the test file on USB stick, shows correct values.
(You may now find why in this new post.)
Then I measured the output of an old Philips CD604 CD player
(which has some issues)
I think that was the cheapest of all the Philips full size CD players at the time (1991 or so)
From what I could find, it was costing 130 GBP at the time.
SINAD
997Hz 0dBFS
Left: Analog output
Right: SPDIF output
We are not at the same level on the analog output, for sure.
But the 90.4dB SINAD in digital is similar to Amir's measurements
He measured 90.6dB SINAD on the SPDIF out above :
Also interesting is that this figure for digital output seems to be limited by distortion rather than noise.
Another attempt with a more serious contender
The NAD M50 Streamer and CD transport was around 2500€ at launch
(I bought it second hand)
It has no analog output. Therefore, the measurement here is just digital output.
We get the exact same figure than above.
It may be a limitation of my Test CD ?
So I tried another test signal, generated by AP tool (Reference 0dBFS 997Hz), that I also included on the test CD
SINAD figure is slightly better (0.8dB)
So the 90.4 is the limitation of my first test signal, obviously.
Knowing this, I re-ran the same signal on the Philicps CD604 and got the exact same figure from the digital out.
(I also re-ran the test with Analog output, but, unfortunately, that didn't bring any benefit vs the measurement above)
The fact both reach exactly the same result brings again the question:
Is the limitation due to my test CD ?
Interestingly, the M50 being a streamer,
I may play directly the file with the test signal from a USB stick :
We now get what we expected.
And a massive 15dB improvement on THD.
In my above measurements, we see the impact of the CD itself
The degradation is either due to the quality of my test CD-R or to my engraver (it's getting old) or to the player or...
Or, more likely, something I don't understand.
Yet.
Update: Now I know why !
Read on here
(Also have a look at other 16 bits measurements here)
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OP
- Thread Starter
- #58
I put it away but yes, if I get time, will do.
The SA-10 hits the limits of dithered CD.
Marantz SA-10 Review (SACD Player & DAC)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Marantz SACD player and USB balanced DAC. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $7,499. The industrial design is good although usability is poor with super tiny fonts for various settings (e.g. filter number top left). Disc tray opens...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Pick up an E1DA Cosmos ADC from Audiophonics. It’s easy to test line level gear.After two CDP reviews I'm tempted to send my Kenwood DP7090 to @VintageFlanker - 8x PCM1702.
Would be nice to know if it was really as good as claimed.
But I fear transport damage.
Great Review! I am still left wondering how the S/PDIF signal turns out to be so poor as not to clear the 16 bits dynamic range of the Red Book CD specs. As a collector of CDs, Amir's review shows that not all transports are created equal, as they present noise and harmonic distortion (about -97 dB of a third harmonic for the Cayin) and a comparison with the digital output of the Linn could have been helpful. I suspect that some current and inexpensive CD readers for computer use have a better SINAD of their digital stream that the Cayin.
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