Help Shape Our Upcoming CD Player for 2024

[Doodski]

That sounds just like poor design. Obviously interference is possible but one works largely in the digital domain whilst the other doesn't. And obviously one could design the radio parts so that they are not active when CD/BT is used in order to avoid any leakage.

Largely these things aren't designed this way because they want to sell more units.

I've had Philips receiver with radio built in, once I upgraded to an amp only with more power it was impossible to hear any difference at normal listening levels. This was late 90s

I'm not aware of exactly what is occurring in a disc player with say a cel tel near it or a HAM radio or a very strong WiFi signal maybe. How I know this is we used cel tels to test CD players and found the majority are sensitive to cel tel RF.

 

[Bleib]

I'm not aware of exactly what is occurring in a disc player with say a cel tel near it or a HAM radio or a very strong WiFi signal maybe. How I know this is we used cel tels to test CD players and found the majority are sensitive to cel tel RF.

Well, I also have a Denon rcd-n8 which basically has lots of things inside a rather small box. If I connect a DAC to it or listen to CD through the device itself I have never heard any radio signal as part of the music from the speakers.
If this design were to be improved then the focus should mainly be to insert a better class D amp inside of it. More clean power.. doable.

 

[Doodski]

Well, I also have a Denon rcd-n8 which basically has lots of things inside a rather small box. If I connect a DAC to it or listen to CD through the device itself I have never heard any radio signal as part of the music from the speakers.

If you want to try it you would need to engage the CD player then start a cel tel call and put the cel tel near the unit and see what range it has for causing distortion.

 

[Urib]

Hey audiophiles,

We've noticed a growing interest in a CD player among our users, and we're excited to announce that we're starting its development in 2024. At this point, we're defining its core features and really value your input. Let's work together to bring this CD player to life! Attached is an early concept sketch for your review.
Also, we'd love your thoughts on a few aspects:

• What do you think would be a fair price for this CD player?
• Where do you see yourself using it most?
• Is a balanced TRS output necessary for you to connect to active speakers?

Can't wait to hear your ideas!

Must play SACD, DSD output through spidif, fully balanced. High performance internal DAC.

 

[Nawaf A]

Has anything come of this project yet? We're in the second half of 2024 already.

I think a CD "Player" is not the best way to go about the product if you want to keep it price-appropriate. I'd rather have a CD transport that only plays CDs and does it well, I.E. no DAC, volume knob, Bluetooth, etc... rather than a CD player that does half a dozen things but does it mediocrely.

An optical and coaxial output would be enough for most users. Most people buying a CD transport or player likely have a DAC in their signal chain, whether in an integrated amplifier or a separate DAC. Which is most definitely of better quality than what you're going to put in a CD player, that is if you want to keep it budget-conscious.

An ideal budget CD player is a CD transport. Identify the redundancy and design around the core principle of the device as best as you can. Look to the Shanling ET3 for inspiration.

 

[Robin L]

Has anything come of this project yet? We're in the second half of 2024 already.

I think a CD "Player" is not the best way to go about the product if you want to keep it price-appropriate. I'd rather have a CD transport that only plays CDs and does it well, I.E. no DAC, volume knob, Bluetooth, etc... rather than a CD player that does half a dozen things but does it mediocrely.

An optical and coaxial output would be enough for most users. Most people buying a CD transport or player likely have a DAC in their signal chain, whether in an integrated amplifier or a separate DAC. Which is most definitely of better quality than what you're going to put in a CD player, that is if you want to keep it budget-conscious.

An ideal budget CD player is a CD transport. Identify the redundancy and design around the core principle of the device as best as you can. Look to the Shanling ET3 for inspiration.

And make it a front loader so it can be stacked with the rest of the electronics. I'm using a Sony Blu-Ray player with coax and optical outputs. Has a tray and is sitting on top of an amp with spacers so there's plenty of ventilation. Certainly "price appropriate" at $8 for the player and $10 for the remote.

 

[Platypus20]

We’re talking design by committee, each one with a different agenda, never going satisfy everyone

I would buy one instantly if it was a quality built transport, coax/Toslink outputs, push buttons, no large multi-function knob, with a remote. No BT, no DAC, no headphone, no multi-inputs, no streaming. Basically without all the function everyone else seems to want

 

[Ricardus]

Hey audiophiles,

We've noticed a growing interest in a CD player among our users, and we're excited to announce that we're starting its development in 2024. At this point, we're defining its core features and really value your input. Let's work together to bring this CD player to life! Attached is an early concept sketch for your review.
Also, we'd love your thoughts on a few aspects:

• What do you think would be a fair price for this CD player?
• Where do you see yourself using it most?
• Is a balanced TRS output necessary for you to connect to active speakers?

Can't wait to hear your ideas!

What happened to the pics?

I still require analog L/R outputs.

 

[Nawaf A]

And make it a front loader so it can be stacked with the rest of the electronics. I'm using a Sony Blu-Ray player with coax and optical outputs. Has a tray and is sitting on top of an amp with spacers so there's plenty of ventilation. Certainly "price appropriate" at $8 for the player and $10 for the remote.

Well, I do not doubt that the Sony Blu-ray player is very capable for the price. However, I want a specialist hifi piece that looks decidedly handsome as well. Hardly an adjective attributed to these CD players. And unfortunately, I'm very superficial!

 

[Doublej]

And make it a front loader so it can be stacked with the rest of the electronics. I'm using a Sony Blu-Ray player with coax and optical outputs. Has a tray and is sitting on top of an amp with spacers so there's plenty of ventilation. Certainly "price appropriate" at $8 for the player and $10 for the remote.

What (vintage) model is it?

 

[Robin L]

What (vintage) model is it?

BDP BX-57. Looks like 2010. It has analog audio output for stereo only. Got it at a thrift store about five years ago. Using a Topping E30 as an outboard DAC, it's the best sounding piece of digital gear I have owned.

 

[Lux_ury]

click portable CD player

 

[sofrep811]

SMSL came out with a very nice CD player. I think people are hedging their bets that CD's come back a little like vinyl?

 

[copperblue]

Fiio have announced the DM13, which ticks a lot of boxes.

 

[Tell]

Fiio have announced the DM13, which ticks a lot of boxes.

Yup lots of boxes! Just missing CD-text, OGG and Opus support, a remote, and a perfect opportunity to have a see through lid. And personally I could have gone without the whole portable thing and headphone outputs. But still interesting for sure!

 

[Lux_ury]

It would be great if it could write BD
As I have been looking for cheap external devices for storage rather than vision?

 

[JCM800]

SMSL came out with a very nice CD player. I think people are hedging their bets that CD's come back a little like vinyl?

CDs don't even have to come back as a current release thing. There are literally billions of CDs floating around. Someone needs to keep making machines to play them for the foreseeable future so they don't all end up in the landfill.

 

[Lux_ury]

Most people think they can't use old DVD and blue ray players as media players.
I found a Samsung BD someone chucked. I took it home clean it up plays fine except it was Asia region only, but Cds no issues I feed output via coaxial Rca cable and via Dac.
The remote cost more than the blu-ray.

 

[Tell]

Most people think they can't use old DVD and blue ray players as media players.
I found a Samsung BD someone chucked. I took it home clean it up plays fine except it was Asia region only, but Cds no issues I feed output via coaxial Rca cable and via Dac.
The remote cost more than the blu-ray.

Problem with those are that they are too big for what they are, they really don't need to be bigger than a CD plus a bit more to have room for a proper display that supports CD text.

 

[Lux_ury]

Problem with those are that they are too big for what they are, they really don't need to be bigger than a CD plus a bit more to have room for a proper display that supports CD text.

Sorry it was a direct reply to JCM800 Idea that cds couldn't be played due to lack of media players. Adding to that I think everyone still has cd ROMs floating about in boxes aswell I know I do.