What CD Player would you like to see tested?

[Kremmen]

Seeing the Marantz CD5005 tested would be interesting, for me at least! It's the lesser of my two CD players but I do enjoy its sound when any processing is turned off, which I did soon after buying it new.

The other CD player I own is a Marantz CD-63 MkII KI Signature, a lovely CD player. I'd have suggested that first but a very similar CD-63 model has already been tested here by NTTY.

BTW, thanks for that review NTTY, and all the others you've done. I really enjoy reading about CD players and your reviews are the most thorough and interesting I've ever read.

Cheerio!

 

[Salt]

EMT 948
981 or 982

 

[tobyjug]

If you're into a Transport, I measured today the Sony DVP-SR760H, coax out to an SMSL PS200 DAC, and...:

View attachment 454933

This is so good that we are extremely close to the WAV file which, when processed directly by the computer (no conversion), is:

View attachment 454935

This cheap Sony is a basic DVD player, but it outputs a surprisingly very good digital stream which, converted by an equally cheap DAC, provides the best measurements I have to report from an Audio CD.

Note the clock shows a 50ppm deviation in this test which is still good enough for Audio but somewhat disappointing in 2025, and that transitions to the DAC.

The drive is surprisingly fast and is one of the best to resist dropouts on a CD, almost a dream, if only it did not require a TV to know what track you're playing. I'll review it in full soon. The analog output is crap, though (noisy).

Wow.This maybe an option for me ! I am on a pension driven budget !! I was hoping to get a Denon 900 ne but even priced as it is it's a stretch. Maybe this as a transport and a topping or smsl would do the job.I also have a dvd collection. Display issues wouldn't really be an issue.

 

[NTTY]

EMT 948
981 or 982

EMT 981 hosts the TDA1541A-S1 so you can have a look at the Revox B 266-S review, it will have very close performances as they are limited by this DAC. Maybe the 981 has a different filtering though, I’m not sure, but you can check what the TDA1541A are capable of when fed by a higher quality digital filter in the Sony CDP-337ESD.

The 982 uses the first 1bit DAC of Philips, the TDA1547, which I reviewed in the Teac VRDS 20. What’s interesting is that the 982 uses the higher quality digital filter of Philips, the TDA1307 (instead of the SAA7350 in the Teac which was not a top performer at the time), with selectable 3rd or 4th order noise shaper. It would be interesting to test it. But that player is too expensive, and only few others used the TDA1307. I’ll keep an eye on those, never knows.

I’m not into turn tables yet. A company close to where I live can create vinyls on demand, so I already thought about creating a test disc. But I don’t have enough time at the moment, and I know there’s not much to expect on a quality perspective. I think all has been said on the topic already, and maybe some of it has been forgotten. I’ll consider again when I’ll be retired, I suppose

 

[VientoB]

One of the Arcam cd players with the dcs ring dac would be nice to see measured,I’ve still got my alpha 9,must get it fixed,I actually felt like a broken audiophile when I couldn’t hear any difference between that and my alpha 7se 25 years ago,I was just obviously well ahead of the curve tho

Makes me so angry with magazines like What Hifi. All those wasted hours reading nonsense!

 

[Salt]

EMT 981 hosts the TDA1541A-S1 so you can have a look at the Revox B 266-S review, it will have very close performances as they are limited by this DAC. Maybe the 981 has a different filtering though, I’m not sure, but you can check what the TDA1541A are capable of when fed by a higher quality digital filter in the Sony CDP-337ESD.

The 982 uses the first 1bit DAC of Philips, the TDA1547, which I reviewed in the Teac VRDS 20. What’s interesting is that the 982 uses the higher quality digital filter of Philips, the TDA1307 (instead of the SAA7350 in the Teac which was not a top performer at the time), with selectable 3rd or 4th order noise shaper. It would be interesting to test it. But that player is too expensive, and only few others used the TDA1307. I’ll keep an eye on those, never knows.

I’m not into turn tables yet. A company close to where I live can create vinyls on demand, so I already thought about creating a test disc. But I don’t have enough time at the moment, and I know there’s not much to expect on a quality perspective. I think all has been said on the topic already, and maybe some of it has been forgotten. I’ll consider again when I’ll be retired, I suppose

If You are interested I could send a 982 for testing .

 

[Robin L]

I've had good luck with the Sony BDP-BX57 Blu Ray player. It appeared in 2010. In addition to CDs and DVDs (along with Blu Ray discs) it also can play back SACDs. I've got it connected to a Topping E30 DAC via optical Toslink. I just tried the coax output. Both can play back single layer SACDs and the audio layer of DVDs and DVD audio. I'd have to get some sort of HDMI/Toslink or coax adaptor to play back Blu Ray audio through the E30. Not a big for me, I've only got two Blu Ray audio discs of music that's easy to find on standard discs or via streaming.

The BDP-BX57 has stereo analog outs, but that appears to be an underperforming afterthought. However, the other formats sound just fine via the E30. I've got two of these Blu Ray players, one for the audio system, another for the TV in another room. DVD playback is hampered in that 4:3 aspect ratio movies don't play back properly on out old Panasonic 47" TV. I don't know if the issue is with the player or the TV. DVDs with the usual widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 are just fine as are 4:3 movies in the Blu Ray format. One would need some sort of monitor to navigate the menus for DVD-A and Blu Ray audio. In any case, I usually use it for CDs anyway.

As a "CD player" when used with an outboard DAC it's just fine. Ebay has them from a little over $30 to as much as $150, delivered.

 

[Leeken]

Found this about the Arcam 9,looks perfectly good 26 years after it came out to my very uneducated eyes
What do the experts think?

Arcam Alpha 9 CD player Measurements

Sidebar 4: Measurements The Arcam Alpha 9's maximum output was 2.36V at 1kHz, some 1.45dB higher than the standard CD level of 2V. This was sourced from a low impedance of 47 ohms across the audio band, with positive (noninverting) absolute polarity. The error correction was excellent, the Alpha...

www.stereophile.com

 

[vddobrev]

I would like to see tested the Pioneer PD-50AE. I have it, and I think it is fantastic CD and SACD player.

 

[NTTY]

Wow.This maybe an option for me ! I am on a pension driven budget !! I was hoping to get a Denon 900 ne but even priced as it is it's a stretch. Maybe this as a transport and a topping or smsl would do the job.I also have a dvd collection. Display issues wouldn't really be an issue.

If you’re in Europe, or somewhere with 220V-240V, I can give you mine. It’s small and light so shipping cost should be reasonable. I just need to finalize couple of measurements before

 

[NTTY]

If You are interested I could send a 982 for testing .

I can’t say no to that Not afraid of shipping it?

 

[Salt]

I can’t say no to that Not afraid of shipping it?

Why should I be afraid of that? Shipping to the country of 'new' origin of EMT?
Or should I consider Your integrity; no, I don't, and a 982 is not a jewel in the market, and here unused for years.
PM.

 

[lini]

How about a few portables (preferably models with additional line-out)? And I'd also wonder, whether models with optical SPDIF output (e.g. Panasonic SL-CT570, Sanyo CDP-4300...) might not be attractive as compact transports.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[tobyjug]

If you’re in Europe, or somewhere with 220V-240V, I can give you mine. It’s small and light so shipping cost should be reasonable. I just need to finalize couple of measurements before

Wow!! That's a very generous gesture. I'll send you a DM.

 

[NTTY]

@everybody : I did not have time to individually reply, but you suggested many interesting items, a lot of them being in my wanted list. Thank you!

 

[lini]

(...) models with optical SPDIF output (e.g. Panasonic SL-CT570 (...)

Oops, forgot to mention: Not all SL-CT570s sport the optical SPDIF output. I'm not sure, how many more or less different variants for different market regions there actually were, but as far as I'm aware at least the Japanese, the European and the British variant would sport the optical SPDIF output, while the variants for the USA and Canada wouldn't.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[NTTY]

Hi Flo, thanks for asking!

TASCAM CD-200!

Ordered! Review in couple of weeks, I think/hope

And I added the review of the small DVD player Sony DVP-SR760H to the list.

 

[Kr2d2]

Ordered! Review in couple of weeks, I think/hope

Great news!

I get really excited to see the TASCAM being tested by you, Flo - be it with good outcome or even if it's measuring not so well!

I am happily using the player as a transport in my headphone system: TASCAM CD-200 -> RME ADI-2 DAC -> STAX Driver Unit(s) -> STAX Ear Speaker(s), so I am especially interested in the performance of the digital outputs.

BUT whenever I look at the pitch control feature (switched on here just for the foto!) I am a bit concerned what they have implemented here, suspecting - as the layperson that I am - maybe it has bad influence/processing even if it's turned off? maybe not really bypassed then?? Who knows??? Unfortunately I don't!

... but no hurry, I am patient in waiting!

 

[VientoB]

Great news!

I get really excited to see the TASCAM being tested by you, Flo - be it with good outcome or even if it's measuring not so well!

I am happily using the player as a transport in my headphone system: TASCAM CD-200 -> RME ADI-2 DAC -> STAX Driver Unit(s) -> STAX Ear Speaker(s), so I am especially interested in the performance of the digital outputs.

BUT whenever I look at the pitch control feature (switched on here just for the foto!) I am a bit concerned what they have implemented here, suspecting - as the layperson that I am - maybe it has bad influence/processing even if it's turned off? maybe not really bypassed then?? Who knows??? Unfortunately I don't!

View attachment 456345

... but no hurry, I am patient in waiting!

The fact it has a defeat button implies it won't have any influence when turned off.

 

[NTTY]

BUT whenever I look at the pitch control feature (switched on here just for the foto!) I am a bit concerned what they have implemented here, suspecting - as the layperson that I am - maybe it has bad influence/processing even if it's turned off? maybe not really bypassed then?? Who knows??? Unfortunately I don't!

We'll know soon