Difference?

[FirstTime]

This may sound kinda dumb here but whats are the differences betn a CDP below 1k and those above 2k? Didnt dare to poke ard the Mall to audition and quality cld be due to amp and speaker as well? So can anyone share the experience?

[SiriuslyCold]

build quality, internal parts, DAC, tray mechanism, power supply ... a lot goes into a CD player

 

better CD players have better parts and construction

 

if you go and listen and cannot tell the difference, buy the cheaper one and use the money for CDs

[FirstTime]

I can understand dat the build quality should better given the price tag. But personally, since i dont dare to / have the chance to audition for a high range cdp yet and most of the time the discussion in here is on amps and speakers, i am quite curious to know the percentage contribution of a good cdp in a reasonable setup.

 

i have a frd that has 2 cdp of relatively price which he uses to play different kind of music, one more for vocal, another for dance music. But what abt the higher range kind, those above 2k, it is for musical gene specific? while the lower price range for generic?

[louco73]

If you want to know how big an impact the CD player (with built in DAC) has on the overall sound here is my order of preference:

 

Room -> Speakers -> Pre-amp -> CD player/DAC -> Amp ->............................................cables

 

Move your speakers a few inches in either direction and you'll get a much bigger change in the sound than changing your Amp.

 

Cables, well, once you get some decent ones (i.e. commercial grade from somewhere like LHS), then you are kidding yourself if you think the money on better cables can make an improvement as much as changing the other components listed above.

 

People will kill me for saying that, but that's my opinion :).

 

I knew that a room played a big part, but since moving recently I REALLY appreciate how big a part that is.

[SiriuslyCold]

I second that opinion

 

 

 

[Guest francis woo]

I 'third' the opinion..... :D

[monstertruck]

i agree with louco as well, esp with regards to the speaker placement issue.

i personally have little knowledge of anything else, but when my back is facing the music (speakers), or when i lie down or bed, or when i stand near the window, or when i'm at my writing desk, the sound has varying degrees of difference. (i place my speakers on top of my writing desk/bookshelf, whereas my components sit atop of another bookshelf. i know it's not the best placement, but i have my own space constraints)

[FirstTime]

hmm..so I have to move? kidding....get the pt.  ;)

 

 

[SiriuslyCold]

haha I was reading this other thread elsewhere, someone asked about how to improve his sound... started with cheap things and escalated to moving houses.

[louco73]

hmm..so I have to move? kidding....get the pt.  ;)

 

With my move it made it worse! I just got some curtains yesterday, so I'll play some music later and see if that is any better.

 

I think I need some rugs and some treatment on the walls though :(.

 

I'll start another thread about this to get some advice soon.

[kzone]

first time, wat's ur setup n after the advise, wats ur plan gonna be?

 

Got a feeling that your conclusion is that the 2+k CDP is gonna so little difference that you wont notice it...

 

I upgraded my cdp some months back... I cant sell my HDB flat yet.. upgrading speakers would mean spending few times more & repositioning speakers would mean hacking down the wall that divide my living room & my neighbour's... with the "new" cdp, I'm enjoying my music more than before... so dont close that option of getting a better CDP..

 

btw, better cdp doesnt always mean more ex, so dont be scared.. go out there & audition!!

[Jose]

 

Each brand has their own house "sound" no matter how neutral or transparent they claim to be. So certain brands are more suited to certain genres of music.

 

I can understand dat the build quality should better given the price tag. But personally, since i dont dare to / have the chance to audition for a high range cdp yet and most of the time the discussion in here is on amps and speakers, i am quite curious to know the percentage contribution of a good cdp in a reasonable setup.

 

i have a frd that has 2 cdp of relatively price which he uses to play different kind of music, one more for vocal, another for dance music. But what abt the higher range kind, those above 2k, it is for musical gene specific? while the lower price range for generic?

[kj87]

maybe can give some eg like which brand does what music better? interested in knowing...

[hifiluv]

fm my experience, used to own the NAD C542 (approx $600 new) and now i hv a NAD C521 ($400 new??), already the difference in sound is quite big.  if i now start again, i will stay with the 542 ;)

 

 

 

[hifiluv]

fm my experience, used to own the NAD C542 (approx $600 new) and now i hv a NAD C521 ($400 new??), already the difference in sound is quite big.  paired with even entry level tube amp and KEF speakers, the dynamics, the attack, the tightness of the bass, makes it really value for $, if i were to start again, i will stay with the C542 ;)

[FirstTime]

hi kzone,

 

i asked mainly becos everytime i hear something nice, it is usually attributed to the speakers or the amp. And usually, most ppl do not have another cdp to alternate for me to hear the difference.

 

Presumably, higher priced equipment usually is better, i was curious to know the quality of those dat has a asking price above 2k as most of my frds have those 1k+ and below.

 

i am rather 'shy' to step into those shops and ask the keeper to switch ard their set for me to audition when i have no intention to buy.  ;D

[fu01]

its a common thing that diff between $200-$800 cdp is larger than say $1000-$1500.

 

a 2k cdp may go into details like eliminating vibrations as much as possible(thus why more exp are heavier and larger). Even their LED screen can be switch off as some ppl claimed that the electric current running on the LED can have slight effects on the sound.......