Yamaha CD-S303 Review (CD Player)

[Jcrow]

The build quality is good mate; typical yamaha. I got mine new but excel hifi often have refurbished units for around $400. They're a certified yamaha reseller and I got my amp from them which has also been great. Just checked and they currently have one in silver if you're interested (these tend to go quick): https://www.excelhifi.com.au/produc...er-CD-player-Certified-Refurbished-p640774445

I was actually eyeing that one off haha. I'll probably go new, though, since it's only $130 more.

 

[DazST]

I was actually eyeing that one off haha. I'll probably go new, though, since it's only $130 more.

Fair enough, I did the same thing because I wanted the black one! I honestly don't think you can go wrong with this cd player, especially if you intend to use it as a transport.

 

[DSJR]

Agreed.

I'd have never assumed that this would be anywhere near £400 new. My Marantz CD5005 in my secondary system was approximately £170 new from Richer Sounds back in March 2018 and an extra £15 or so secured a 6-year warranty on it. With the default digital processing turned off (used for speed control), it sounds fabulous and has been a champ. It looks so much better than this Yamaha too but that's a matter of taste of course!

I entered the industry properly in the days of the original Yamaha CA400/600/800/1000 models with similar plain clean looks (and very soft acting delicate toggle-switches). Their current range of CD/SA-CD players would fit right in.

Me? I'm not a fan of Marantz styling these days, but it's good to have the variety and for £170, i reckon you got a bargain. (Richer Sounds do a lot of audio-gear buyers a great service with a lot of their models and still have the now old Diamond 9 speakers at a hundred quid the pair or thereabouts).

 

[carsknivesbeer]

Thank you for these measurements. A someone who plays a lot of CDs still, these are very informative.

Would it be fair to assume that the CD-S603 (5 disc changer) would have similar measurements? Picked it up for a song almost brand new once one of my ES players stopped reading burned CDs.

 

[NTTY]

If they share the same conversion board, then results will be the same indeed. I could not confirm the internals from a quick search on the web.

 

[carsknivesbeer]

https://imgur.com/a/6ixUSE6
CD-S603 Internal Pics. Manufactured 01-2024. If these don't work, let me know.

 

[AndreaT]

Great review. I had the fortune to buy the new SMSL PL200 and it favorably compares (it actually sounds better) to an old Esoteric X-05, and it has a nice balanced XLR outputs and impeccable fit’n finish.

 

[ethanwilson239j]

okay

 

[mhardy6647]

No. As long as the player you get plays CDs correctly (no skipping due to worn laser or other technical issues) you can use it as a transport to a DAC and it is going to sound just like that DAC. Charity shops typically have a good selection of Panasonic and Sony DVD and Blu-ray players for a few bucks that would make a great transport.

Yup.

https://flic.kr/p/2kaNLw4

Dump find DVDP.

 

[NTTY]

No. As long as the player you get plays CDs correctly (no skipping due to worn laser or other technical issues) you can use it as a transport to a DAC and it is going to sound just like that DAC. Charity shops typically have a good selection of Panasonic and Sony DVD and Blu-ray players for a few bucks that would make a great transport.

If the DVD/BR player has an HDMI output, there’s a risk that the digital stream is modified via an ASRC, to output max CD Audio format (in fact 16bits 44.1kHz or 48kHz) to satisfy an anti-piracy regulation in regards to high-res audio content (24bits). Even if that is unecessary for CD audio, some brands will process all digital stream via the ASRC (because it’s easier) and will modify the digital stream, possibly introducing a variety of distortion and noise.

 

[aagstn]

If the DVD/BR player has an HDMI output, there’s a risk that the digital stream is modified via an ASRC, to output max CD Audio format (in fact 16bits 44.1kHz or 48kHz) to satisfy an anti-piracy regulation in regards to high-res audio content (24bits). Even if that is unecessary for CD audio, some brands will process all digital stream via the ASRC (because it’s easier) and will modify the digital stream, possibly introducing a variety of distortion and noise.

Would the DAC show it is getting a 48kHz signal from the optical out if this is happening? The only DVD player I use for CDs that has an HDMI port is an Oppo, but I don't hear anything weird with it and it sends 44.1 to the DAC.

 

[NTTY]

If the sampling rate would be changed to 48kHz, then yes the DAC would sync on it and show 48kHz.
As far as I know, Oppo players do not modify the digital output data (even when they should ).

 

[mhardy6647]

I entered the industry properly in the days of the original Yamaha CA400/600/800/1000 models with similar plain clean looks (and very soft acting delicate toggle-switches). Their current range of CD/SA-CD players would fit right in.

I am just pandering...

 

[DSJR]

I am just pandering...

There definitely used to be a difference using Class A, but one had to wait 30 seconds or so on the 800 and 1000. I said this before but was disbelieved and so be it. i still think there's an elegance to this generation of Yamahas which I felt was diluted progressively as the generations went on, even if the internals were simplified and tidied up.

 

[mhardy6647]

There definitely used to be a difference using Class A, but one had to wait 30 seconds or so on the 800 and 1000. I said this before but was disbelieved and so be it. i still think there's an elegance to this generation of Yamahas which I felt was diluted progressively as the generations went on, even if the internals were simplified and tidied up.

I agree vis-a-vis the aesthetics, FWIW.
Although the CR-1000 kind of broke ranks.

 

[DSJR]

I agree vis-a-vis the aesthetics, FWIW.
Although the CR-1000 kind of broke ranks.

OOOOHHHH is that yours?

I LOVED the CR1000 very much and it had a lovely 'velvet' quality to the sound - I've no idea why - that one could listen through for hours on end. Those switches, whether flip type or sliders, SO smooth.

Sorry fellas, the CR1010 and 1020 were nothing like as tasty as this...

 

[mhardy6647]

Yes, and:
1) it is a pretty good piece of hardware, with a very good tuner.
2) that one is rehabilitated and in good working order.

 

[Droid_chinchilla]

If the DVD/BR player has an HDMI output, there’s a risk that the digital stream is modified via an ASRC, to output max CD Audio format (in fact 16bits 44.1kHz or 48kHz) to satisfy an anti-piracy regulation in regards to high-res audio content (24bits). Even if that is unecessary for CD audio, some brands will process all digital stream via the ASRC (because it’s easier) and will modify the digital stream, possibly introducing a variety of distortion and noise.

So I guess it is not a good idea to listen to a SACD on a blu ray player through its HDMI out into a DAC? I know that they output the CD layer through the SPDIF. Using a HDMi to I2s extractor would give bit perfect stream for the DAC?

 

[NTTY]

So I guess it is not a good idea to listen to a SACD on a blu ray player through its HDMI out into a DAC? I know that they output the CD layer through the SPDIF. Using a HDMi to I2s extractor would give bit perfect stream for the DAC?

I guess this is to verify with the user guide of the blu ray player. I suppose not all of them will output DSD via HDMI, some will probably convert to PCM before.

 

[Jim T]

I bought this player refurbished off Accessories4Less for $229 and have had no issues in over a year and a half. Used as a stand alone player and with a Topping D50 DAC and could not really hear much difference other than what one might hear changing the filter choices. Fed good material I am quite happy with it. I doubt that I would like it less than any other $500 player one might buy.