CD Player Advice

[Rckbttm]

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum.

I currently have a modest system in a small room and am using a Sony DVP-S9000ES player.

The Sony unit is beginning to fail; it is struggling to read discs and the eject button is broken. Given the age and condition of this player, I am wondering if it is worth having it repaired, or if I should invest that money into a new player such as a Denon DCD-900NE, Rotel CD11, or Onkyo C-30? I understand these models aren't SACD.

 

[Vandemann]

Get yourself any Sony DVD player that also plays SACDs, an HDMI audio splitter, and a Topping E30II Lite and you'll be good to go for any disc you want to play.

 

[Johnkeizer]

The topping e30II lite accepts hdmi?
Because that and I2S are the only way to get tha dsd signal from an SACD out in digital form.
The Rotel cd11 tribute or cd11mk2 are excellent players, yes I have one.

 

[staticV3]

Let me summon our resident CD expert @NTTY for some advice

 

[LTig]

I currently have a modest system in a small room and am using a Sony DVP-S9000ES player.

The Sony unit is beginning to fail; it is struggling to read discs and the eject button is broken. Given the age and condition of this player, I am wondering if it is worth having it repaired, ...

You could check the service manual (free download: https://www.manualslib.com/download/899217/Sony-Dvp-S9000es.html) and try to clean the moving parts of the drive and apply new grease. There are lots of videos on youtube showing how to do this. Often this helps to get it running.

 

[Rick63]

Life is short, so I recommend you spend a little more on one of these. It is built better than the budget models from Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, Rotel, etc... Plus it's smaller form factor is nice and the coolness factor is high.

SMSL PL200T Review (CD Transport)

Hello Everyone, This is a review and details measurements of the SMSL PL200T CD Player and Transport. It was kindly sent to me by Aoshidaudio.com. SMSL PL200T - Presentation I already reviewed the SMSL PL200 which is nearly the same, having an internal DAC on top. This is the transport...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or if you need a player with analog outs:

SMSL PL200 Review (CD Player)

Hello Everyone, This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL PL200 CD Player and Transport. It was kindly sent to me by Aoshidaudio.com. SMSL PL200 - Presentation Released in 2023 and hosting an AK4499EX, this full aluminum CD player intends to be a high-end one. There a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Johnkeizer]

Got one of those, agree re build etc. Excellent sound , I’m using I2S but also via normal digital out.
Only problem for some may be that it’s a top loader so needs room above. That’s where traditional tray loaders are more convenient.
And of course it doesn’t do SACD, only the cd layer off those discs.

 

[Rick63]

Got one of those, agree re build etc. Excellent sound , I’m using I2S but also via normal digital out.
Only problem for some may be that it’s a top loader so needs room above. That’s where traditional tray loaders are more convenient.
And of course it doesn’t do SACD, only the cd layer off those discs.

I use AES to my Topping D70 Pro Sabre with great results.

I think top loaders are cool and the way I look at it is that there is no need to worry about tray opening/closing or any other tray related issues in the future.

 

[Vandemann]

The topping e30II lite accepts hdmi?
Because that and I2S are the only way to get tha dsd signal from an SACD out in digital form.
The Rotel cd11 tribute or cd11mk2 are excellent players, yes I have one.

No, it only has optical and coax but audio splitters have one or the other as outputs offering high res PCM not DSD but you can't hear the difference.

 

[NTTY]

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum.

I currently have a modest system in a small room and am using a Sony DVP-S9000ES player.

The Sony unit is beginning to fail; it is struggling to read discs and the eject button is broken.

Staggering everything-player that is. Try to have it fixed. Maybe clean the lens and same for the eject button, it’s probably nothing.

 

[Timcognito]

I liked this one except MQA and any used Oppo player

SMSL PL200T Review (CD Transport)

Hello Everyone, This is a review and details measurements of the SMSL PL200T CD Player and Transport. It was kindly sent to me by Aoshidaudio.com. SMSL PL200T - Presentation I already reviewed the SMSL PL200 which is nearly the same, having an internal DAC on top. This is the transport...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Johnkeizer]

The big Oppos are great, got a 105, but agree about getting that Sony looked at first.

 

[DAP chap]

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum.

I currently have a modest system in a small room and am using a Sony DVP-S9000ES player.

The Sony unit is beginning to fail; it is struggling to read discs and the eject button is broken. Given the age and condition of this player, I am wondering if it is worth having it repaired, or if I should invest that money into a new player such as a Denon DCD-900NE, Rotel CD11, or Onkyo C-30? I understand these models aren't SACD.

I am biased and believe that replacing a Sony ES player is difficult at best, regardless of costs, or what you're willing to pay to play your glorious CDs. I you have access to a shop that could and would repair yours I'd try it, but be sure of it, and I'd expect them to restore it to what they and you consider like new, including repairing or replacing that "eject button" and its operation. Otherwise, if you're in the US, I would shop very patiently here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...player&_sacat=0&_odkw=yamaha+r-s602&_osacat=0

I am partial to changers, so a Sony CDP-CA8ES was my second CD player (after another Sony unit) -which I purchased around 1990, and which served me joyfully for about 20 years. When the display started to go on that, I started to use the link I share now to identify a backup player for the time the day came. Sure enough, the CA8ES started to go quickly after the first issue surfaced. Fortunately, I had been lucky to find a CDP-CA9ES in like-new condition. The unit came with an original manual but not its remote, though that still worked for me because fortunately it uses the same remote as the CDP-CA8ES, and that and the player have continued to work fine for me.

That is what I would do again and recommend to you as well, and you can try to get whatever ES unit appeals to you. I was patient and lucky and wish you good luck as well. Otherwise, Rotel and Onkyo would be the other brands I'd trust -I own and enjoy one nice unit of each. For SACD specifically, I have a Yamaha DV-S1800 which plays DVD-A discs as well. I also bought this used, though from a distributor and it came with everything besides being in like new condition.

Enjoy your patient shopping and good luck with your eventual selection!

 

[Redacted]

To play CDs (or better still, rip to FLACs*) buy any £50 CD/DVD player that has optical (toslink) or co-ax output.
It will be sonically the same as a £50,000 transport if you use digital out.
It may not last for decades but so what?

*In fact if you do rip to FLACs, buy a £15 USB CD player, plug it into a PC and rip!

 

[NTTY]

To play CDs (or better still, rip to FLACs*) buy any £50 CD/DVD player that has optical (toslink) or co-ax output.
It will be sonically the same as a £50,000 transport if you use digital out.
It may not last for decades but so what?

*In fact if you do rip to FLACs, buy a £15 USB CD player, plug it into a PC and rip!

You take the risk of a modified digital output with a DVD player, due to copy protection requirements. That risk is down to nearly 0 with a CD player.

 

[Redacted]

You take the risk of a modified digital output with a DVD player, due to copy protection requirements. That risk is down to nearly 0 with a CD player.

I doubt it, if you use CDs!

For playback situations, CDs have no DRM and players recognize which type of disk is in use - DVD usually goes through HDMI where DRM is be checked at the receiving device, but toslink or co-ax just transports S/PDIF bitstreams - can you name a CD/DVD player with toslink or co-ax that changes the bitstream?

Anyone who rips their CDs is far more likely to use a basic USB CD/DVD player with their PC (or one built-in) than one with all the video and HDMI stuff on it, it's much easier if you do.

 

[DAP chap]

I doubt it, if you use CDs!

For playback situations, CDs have no DRM and players recognize which type of disk is in use - DVD usually goes through HDMI where DRM is be checked at the receiving device, but toslink or co-ax just transports S/PDIF bitstreams - can you name a CD/DVD player with toslink or co-ax that changes the bitstream?

Anyone who rips their CDs is far more likely to use a basic USB CD/DVD player with their PC (or one built-in) than one with all the video and HDMI stuff on it, it's much easier if you do.

There are all sorts of CD player-users, even among aficionados in my small circles. It's never been either/or for me. I rip several CDs to FLAC or 320kpbps at least once a week; and I use one of three CD players regularly, including one DVD/CD/A-DVD/SACD player. All the players are connected to my integrated amp; I have a separate compact drive under and connected to my NUCs for ripping (and occasional DVD-watching) only.
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Also, I've been using CD players since 1985 and I've never thought of negligible bitrate risks, regardless of player; nor have I ever experienced drawer issues of any kind.

 

[Redacted]

There are all sorts of CD player-users, even among aficionados in my small circles. It's never been either/or for me. I rip several CDs to FLAC or 320kpbps at least once a week; and I use one of three CD players regularly, including one DVD/CD/A-DVD/SACD player. All the players are connected to my integrated amp; I have a separate compact drive under and connected to my NUCs for ripping (and occasional DVD-watching) only.
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Also, I've been using CD players since 1985 and I've never thought of negligible bitrate risks, regardless of player; nor have I ever experienced drawer issues of any kind.

Not sure what you are saying.

I was implying that ripping the same CD on various USB or built-in CD/DVD players attached to any of my PCs has always resulted in (reported) bit perfect FLACs and they are measurably identical from one CD drive to another on any of my PCs.

If I generate MP3s (which I mention for the first time here) either directly from a CD or from FLACs, the MP3 us always the the same so long as I use the same ripping program with the same version LAME and all settings constant. If I use another of my PCs, MP3s may not be bit-identical files as algorithms vary slightly.

I suspect that while you can capture the digital output of a standalone CD/DVD player into a DAW or say, Audacity, it's much more of a pain as the PC has no control over the player. And you probably have to split and tag the individual tags. Much easier with say fre:ac or ExactAudioCopy et al, as the program can control the player - eg 'Paranoid Mode' if you have an iffy CD and the tags are auto-sorted.

And I don't think I mentioned draws at all!