If the CD drive itself is a piece of shit it doesn’t matter what the price is or what the feature set. Strongly suggest you use a StreamUnlimited metal drive and price the unit accordingly. I absolutely have no interest in another cheap disposable CD rig.
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Help Shape Our Upcoming CD Player for 2024
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Although you kind of have that already with the "cost no object" transport from Schiit...
I do not necessarily care that it is compact (although we have seen that there is a lot of air inside even very good to excellent older ones0.
And, smaller would be nice, as long as the insides are not getting too warm. Therefore, not too small.
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And Proj-ect
anibal66
Member
It's kind of bizzare to me that the kind of simple cd player I envision (and that would be useful to me) is not being made.
The appearance of what I want - the item that comes closest is the Pro-Ject CD box, in black. Simple display, front panel control buttons so no remote required. But it's a slot loader, I would rather have a tray or top loader. And, no optical out, just coax. And just a bit too expensive.
I think if a Chinese manufacturer could deliver something like the CD Box, but with a simplified loading system, reliable & replaceable/current production laser, and with both coax and optical out, all for about $150 - 200, it would do very well.
The appearance of what I want - the item that comes closest is the Pro-Ject CD box, in black. Simple display, front panel control buttons so no remote required. But it's a slot loader, I would rather have a tray or top loader. And, no optical out, just coax. And just a bit too expensive.
I think if a Chinese manufacturer could deliver something like the CD Box, but with a simplified loading system, reliable & replaceable/current production laser, and with both coax and optical out, all for about $150 - 200, it would do very well.
I need RCA out. And would like to be able to connect directly to my computer, also (however that is done).
My comments below under the assumption of wanting to play CD audio
Pay attention to fact that DVD players HDCP compatible must output a 44.1kHz digital signal.
In the case of a CD being played, it means the digital signal is likely to go through an ASRC even if there’s a unity 44.1kHz to 44.1kHz transformation. This process might generate distortion, typically due to intersample-overs. So you’re no longer “bit perfect” at the output.
With older DVD players, you should be safe though, and it would be easy to measure.
anibal66
Member
@NTTY recently published here in ASR an excellent review of FIIO DM13 CD player, that in my view is close to a perfect desktop/main rig CD transport.
Apart of a software glitch, it has many attractive features
- top loader
- excellent reading capapilities
- good connectivity
- affordable
- good looks, even for a living room
- ...
I strongly miss a good remote, and a circular window on the lid.
I hope Fosi Audio's proposal is close to this.
Hollywood_Bob
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Everybody who has posted on this threat has their own priorities for a CD player.
I don't need a portable cd player; that's what my phone is for. So I am leaning towards the SMSL PL 100 for my desktop.
This thread was started by Fosi almost 13 months ago, and since then Moondrop, SMSL and Fiio have come out with their own approach to a small form factor, lower priced, kinda basic CD player.
And all are interesting.
But nothing from Fosi, who are now saying June-ish.
They seem to have lost the initiative in the market place.
Maybe they are building a better one (one that I might put in my system).
Hollywood_Bob
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Audionaut
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In my opinion, CD players are an anachronism in the age of HiRes streaming.
I still have two Technics, a Kenwood, a Sony ES SACD and a Sony QS player here, which are hardly ever used because everything is also stored as FLAC in the NAS.
A waste of development resources.
Or, in one Picture
I still have two Technics, a Kenwood, a Sony ES SACD and a Sony QS player here, which are hardly ever used because everything is also stored as FLAC in the NAS.
A waste of development resources.
Or, in one Picture
Well, I don't live were one can stream & don't have my CD's or my records that date from 1927 transferred to the NAS that I don't have yet.
But I'm looking for another good CD player (one at least as good as the ones that they used to make).
I did recently have the 9.5 MM film of my Grandparents snow skiing wedding in the Alps of Austria put on DVD's & thumb drives, though.
But I'm looking for another good CD player (one at least as good as the ones that they used to make).
I did recently have the 9.5 MM film of my Grandparents snow skiing wedding in the Alps of Austria put on DVD's & thumb drives, though.
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DavidM1
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I’ve just bought an SMSL PL100 and I love it.
Here are some essentials:
Mechanically silent
Gapless playing on RCA, headphones, and digital outputs.
Coax and optical out for choice
A cute display that shows track number, timing, and output level for internal dac.
Transparent internal dac.
Fuss-free insert and eject.
Very quick to start up and read CD timing.
A remote control and front panel buttons for eject, play, pause, stop, volume for internal dac.
Free from on/ off pops through the speakers.
Price around $100 usd
Compact
The PL100 has all of this, except gapless on internal DAC. It is gapless on digital outs. This is the competition so to capture the imagination it will need the features above as a minimum.
Here are some essentials:
Mechanically silent
Gapless playing on RCA, headphones, and digital outputs.
Coax and optical out for choice
A cute display that shows track number, timing, and output level for internal dac.
Transparent internal dac.
Fuss-free insert and eject.
Very quick to start up and read CD timing.
A remote control and front panel buttons for eject, play, pause, stop, volume for internal dac.
Free from on/ off pops through the speakers.
Price around $100 usd
Compact
The PL100 has all of this, except gapless on internal DAC. It is gapless on digital outs. This is the competition so to capture the imagination it will need the features above as a minimum.
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Yes & will pay a bit more for sturdiness, durability, quality, looks (perhaps a top loader with a clear cover) but don't want to pay $200+ more.
Ralph_Cramden
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Here's a list of some of the choices/competition out there:
The Moondrop discdream 2 is a top loader.
CD Equipment question, nit sure where to ask.
CD Equipment question, nit sure where to ask.
www.audiocircle.com
The Moondrop discdream 2 is a top loader.
Not thinking portable, thinking something that fits in with the older, standard sized stereo gear. Or at least looks like it fits in with it.
When you've been married a long time, it helps to have an aesthetic, theme or something (at least with my wife) to an area of the home that has the gear.
But thanks.
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