NEW CD Player - Questions and Options

[08Boss302]

Hi All

I have just finished setting up my vinyl rig and i am happy where that is, I figure it might be nice to now set up a CD player to join along side it.

 

I"ll try explain myself and the situation as best I can.

For my HT i use an Oppo UDP 203 and whilst my understanding of things is limited/novice i do believe this is a reasonable player.  This is connected via HDMI into my Marantz AVR.  I dont want to run a separate amplifier or AVR for anything but more so connect an independent CD player into this also

The idea is to keep the "audio" components on their separate shelving system ie TT, pre amp and CD player, and my movie stuff ie VCR and BluRay player under the TV.  The AVR sits their also.

 

My question is now that id like to build a CD player into my system what are some decent CD players that i can use in a separate stand alone shelf that i can plug into my AVR.  Preferrably without incorperating a separate DAC....

 

This would be sitting a bit away from the AVR and TV.  As an example my TT is plugged into my pre amp and then i have roughly a 4m cable run from the pre amp to the AVR.  The same would need to apply to the CD player however I am hoping this length of cable is OK from a CD player to an amp.  The TT has the pre amp in between which makes this OK, where the CD player arguably wont have anything. 

 

I am looking at the Marantz 6066 or something in a similar price bracket - say $1000 - $1500. 

Will this price level yield me a nice CD player? I have read that the Oppo is competitive in its own right as a CD player but I'd prefer something on its own dedicated that can sit with the other Hifi components.

 

Any advice or help on brands, options of players and is the length of cable is a factor also. Am i maybe better off spending $500 on a CD player and $1000 on a DAC?  Will this mean the cable run is no issue much like from the TT to pre amp then out?

(There was a nice player in the classifieds in Sydney right now that might fit the bill perfectly but prior to wasting the sellers time I thought i'd ask some questions about set up and my requirement of a 4m cable run)

 

Hoping the above questions and what i am trying to achieve makes some sense

 

cheers,

 

 

 

[Darren69]

Spend 4 to 6k once, on a Meridian 808 CDP and you'll get an end game CDP and DAC all in one. My 808.3i also has an excellent pre amp. It can also be an end point for ROON.

 

Learn cheaply from my expense.  

Edited May 11, 2018 by Darren69

[08Boss302]

I was hoping to cover this by Tax time but spending that much is probably not in the equation sadly.

[Boratri]

I have a marantz AVR which is a lot warmer but less dynamic than the Primare it replaced. I bought a Rega cdp on the basis that they specialise in TTs and their CDPs should sound analogue-ish. I tried it with both the digital cable and analogue and the analogue sounded better IMO. Just a thought. You may want to consider a Rega. But there are good choices in your budget. In fact you could consider a s/h top of the range model. S/h cdps are so cheap these days. 

[08Boss302]

cheers for that.

my AVR is warm, i really like it, its the second Marantz i've owned and being that happiness has come from both of them i tend to stick with what i know. 

As for the CD player i am open to options but i'd prefer to making a step forward over the Oppo and not backward or sideways - thats part of my confusion i spose.

 

I am pretty intrigued with the one in the classifieds section, looks to be a great player and the RRP is far more than i'd be able to afford.  It is in sydney, not sure if the seller would post but i can always ask.

the assumption i am making is that it would surpass the Oppo as a CD player and so long as i am ok to run an RCA cable for 4m to it without comprimising sound it represents a great option

[Ooogh]

The world is your oyster at the moment. The second hand market is awash with quality CD players going cheap. My advise is avoid buying new. This is a dying medium and that shinny new toy will halve in value the second you unbox it.

 

Something like a Rega Saturn R would be ideal. The bonus is it can also be used as a stand alone DAC for streaming etc whilst being a great player. Don't show up often though.

 

Esoteric players are a safe bet on the whole. The little Cyrus with power supply on the Classifieds at the moment is good buying, current model, half the price of a new one.

 

Some older huge ticket items now go for a song, check that replacement transports are available or provided if you travel this route.

 

I would show as much patience as possible and just check the classifieds every day, then research items as they pop up. Most members here take great pride in and care of their gear, a whole lot better than the roulette wheel of eBay.

 

I can not answer your interconnect question but I am sure if the technical side is correct it should not be a problem. Hopefully a technical genius will soon chime in, or run a separate thread asking that particular question.

 

Happy hunting 

[elcamry]

If you can pick up something like a Marantz SA8003 with built in DAC for under $500 that could be run straight into your preamp if the pre has enough inputs , you would then have a very nice CD and SACD player ,

[08Boss302]

Thanks guys, I’ll do my best to show patience on this one. Whilst I do like the new side of things for the warranty and packaging and everything being unmarked etc I would think most members would be the same as me with their stuff and keep it pristine so buying via the classifieds should be pretty safe I agree. 

 

My pre amp for the TT is a Graham Slee Accession, I have ‘spare’ Graham Slee Reflex M but I’m quite sure these are strictly phono stages andwont serve me for the CD player. 

 

 

 

 

[a.dent]

My understanding is all (most) recent AVRs will convert analog inputs to digital so sound processing can be carried out digitally.

I can't see how there would be any benefit to using a better CD player outputting analog only to be re-digitised in the AVR.

Still, a Marantz  CD player might better match the AVR aesthetically.

[08Boss302]

I was thinking/hoping  if i run the CD player with the analog RCA inputs and select the pure direct option on the AVR it should bypass any digititizing and filtering the AVR would do and then i'd be using/enjoying the DAC from marantz as opposed to any processing by the AVR?

 

 

[a.dent]

This is from a AVS thread.

[a.dent]

And this.

 

 

So Pure Direct does not avoid the A-D and D-A conversions.

[08Boss302]

bugger

thank you for the information @a.dent, i was hoping/under the impression that  "pure direct" bypassed this stuff and "direct" still toyed with it a bit.

 

 

 

[a.dent]

8 minutes ago, 08Boss302 said:

bugger

thank you for the information @a.dent, i was hoping/under the impression that  "pure direct" bypassed this stuff and "direct" still toyed with it a bit.

 

 

 

Yes it's extremely frustrating. Of course I would defy you to pick the difference between the signal before the A-D D-A conversions and after. Digital is pretty seamless nowadays. Think of the vinyl rips to 96/24 FLAC that are indistinguishable from the original phono stage output.

[08Boss302]

I tend to agree.

having a read in google now and I dont think the cable length is going to be a major issue either.  In time if i choose to put a stand alone DAC inbetween that will allow me to also stream music (if learn how to do that) and also that would mean the interconnect from the CD to to DAC would be no longer than my current interconnect between the TT and phono stage then the longer run to the AVR.

 

Now I just need some patience and the right CD player to come along i think

[JohnL]

I think you should at least have a listen to the 203 via analog outs first before splashing cash around.........possibly in the wrong area.........( a decent stereo pre instead?)

Don't sell your 203 short.

I have a 205 which sounds fantastic and the word is that the 203 is no slouch either.

 

Edited May 12, 2018 by JohnL

[08Boss302]

thanks @JohnL

It does seem the Oppo range gets great kudos in their function and abilities, kind of difficult to find negative reviews on them. 

 

Last night i was actually wondering if i keep the current HDMI connected to the Oppo and it remains as a digital input on the AVR "BluRay" and then also run RCA interconnects from the Oppo to the RCA ports on the AVR as analog and select that input as CD.  This would mean i would have both the HDMI and the RCA interconnects connected to the Oppo and both running out into the AVR but selected as differing inputs and one being digital and one being analog.

So if i am watching a movie I would select BluRay and the signal is digital HDMI and if i am listening to music I select CD and its signal is via the analog RCA.

 

Do you know if the Oppo have the capacity/smarts to realise which output is being selected or will this return me more hassles than benefit?

[JohnL]

08boss302,

 

Your OPPO 203 outputs audio signals simultaneously from every port.

Simply select appropriate input on AVR as you mention.

 

[08Boss302]

oh cool

i'll try that first off and see how that goes then, i might be quite pleased (so will the wife!)

 

thanks mate,

[JohnL]

ATTN 08boss302..........

 

You do realise that as the Thread starter the onus is on YOU to end this Thread with your findings/purchase decisions ....etc

 

Otherwise all the helpful posters and I must come for your legs!!!!........or......even worse.......EARS!!!!! 

[08Boss302]

Lol,

for now I’m going to take ypur advice and try running some RCA interconnects from the Oppo  and see how that goes.

I’ve got a set of Cambridge interconnects I am not using right now that should get me by on a first trial.  Iwont get it happening til next week now tho as tomorrow is spoken for. 

 

Iwill try that for a while and if it’s not quite hitting the spot I’m leaning toward the Marantz ND8006. This should give me the flexibility to play CDs but also grow into streaming etc.

Ido believe this will be better than the Oppo (by howmuch im not sute) for the dedicated audio functionality but if the Oppo satisfies me enough it means saving $2000, I’m gonna have to seriously think the decision/need vs want  through.

 

 

[goldiver]

https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/246187-fs-roksan-caspian-m2-cd-player/?tab=comments#comment-3898921

 

I'd be all over this if I were you. (I see you're in Melbourne..Just have a courier pick it up).

 

Quality players like this crop up from time to time here. This or something similar is what you should be looking at. Otherwise you won't be satisfied with the sound IMO. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2018 by goldiver

[08Boss302]

7 hours ago, goldiver said:

https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/246187-fs-roksan-caspian-m2-cd-player/?tab=comments#comment-3898921

 

I'd be all over this if I were you. (I see you're in Melbourne..Just have a courier pick it up).

 

Quality players like this crop up from time to time here. This or something similar is what you should be looking at. Otherwise you won't be satisfied with the sound IMO. 

 

 

 

 

cheers @goldiver thank you.

I saw this the other day and believe me, i am giving this a real good thought and have tried to read up on it a bit, i made mention of it above in this thread and also in the tech thread on cable length as I too believe its a serious option for me and probably represents a true step up.

[Irek]

I heard comparison Oppo Bluray by HDMI to Marantz AV receiver vs Oppo by analogue RCA to Marantz integrated amp 8005. The second option sounded 3x better. 

[08Boss302]

2 hours ago, Irek said:

I heard comparison Oppo Bluray by HDMI to Marantz AV receiver vs Oppo by analogue RCA to Marantz integrated amp 8005. The second option sounded 3x better. 

Hmm, I'll be connecting to my AVR either way whether its the Oppo by analog RCA or another player by RCA analog.  Some reading today suggests that the Oppo will pale against a dedicated CD player but at what price point that occurs wasnt mentioned really. 

Chatting to a few audio stores said nothing around $1000-$1500 on a dedicated player will be step forward from the Oppo but rather a side ways step.  Another option if I dont like the Oppo via RCA is a DAC for my 2ch stereo use with the Oppo....

 

Still though, the Roksan option or the ND8006 sit pretty well too.

 

funny hobby this, the more you ask somehow the more expensive the questions end up becoming LOL