From Digital Back to Analog CD

[Lurch]

For over 4 years I've used a Panasonic DVD S29 DVD player to play MP3 and other CDs on my stereo system with my Yamaha HTR 5940 receiver. I retired my JVC XL-V261 single well CD player 4.5 years ago and stored it. I tried to sell it but no one wanted to give me $50 for it (I paid about $169.95 for it at Crutchfield about 1996). I came across it the other day and decided to set it up in my stereo system and retire the DVD S29, because I have a newer Toshiba DVD recorder now which can take it's place. The S29 has a digital audio output but the JVC does not. I'm using two very good Cardas cables on the JVC, and I can't get over how much BETTER it sounds to me than the S29 with digital optical cable did. The JVC has great specs, one of the best in that price range at that time - about 103 db S/N ratio. I think the S29 has higher S/N ratio, but my ears like the JVC better. Plus, the JVC is so much easier to use. I'm glad I didn't sell it. Now I think I'll sell the S29. The JVC has a more open, spacious, balanced sound with much better lows & highs.

I don't really think I like digital sound much. I once had NAD separates and I miss them in ways.

 

[LS2JSTS]

That is more a comparison of the D/A stages of the JVC vs the Yamaha than it is of the JVC vs the Panny.

If you were running optical digital signal to the Yamaha from the Panny then the D/A conversion was being performed inside the Yamaha. Now that you are sending a analog signal to the Yamaha, the D/A conversion is being done by the JVC and not the Yamaha.

Either way it is still a digital signal and source. The only difference is where you are doing the digital to analog conversion.

 

[GMBoy]

Nice Yamaha.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

And even that JVC is not a killer CD. You are not analogue per say as there is no such thing as analogue CD, but digital timing errors and using the terrible optical toslink std into a marginal receiver chip in the yamaha is NOT going to get you good sound. You may wish to try asynchronous USB transfer or firewire to a decent 150$ outboard USB or firewire dac using an old PC or laptop. 16/2 digital is garbage and way below good analogue LP and TAPE playback. Since most quantized digital is recorded at -20dB since digital 0-dB is clipped, the effective S/N ratio is only 70 dB at best which is WORSE than most analogue media precursors - and digital distortion is much more audible as "nasty hash" and "glassiness" than r-r tape or LP replay with a modest Pickering 600 series iron cartridge.

 

[97tbird]

Nice..

I like my NAD cd/dvd changer a lot, I use it only as a transporter and use it with an external (budget) DAC, but I think think even using its own DAC, the NAD sounds superior to any other CD player I have heard in a normal price range...

I am secretly yearning for the matching Music Hall CD player (CD25.2), which i have heard is a real giant killer, rivaling the SQ of players that cost 5x more, but then I lose the "comfort" aspect of a changer...
right now I think I have both, comfort aspect due to the changer, but also the good sound by using the external DAC...

 

[Lurch]

Nice looking NAD CD player. I had an NAD turntable for over 20 years and sold it a few years ago and picked up a nice clean used Denon DP 30L direct drive on eBay. I guess this is called mid fi.

I'll probably keep the same setup unless I hit the lottery or something. CD sounds plenty good enough for me and I have to quit spending money. The JVC makes a fine inexpensive, reliable yet clean sounding CD player.

 

[97tbird]

Yep - i would have never bought that NAD new. I found one in mint condition for about $115 shipped on audiogon.com. All my other gear were also bought used, in good condition. saved a LOT of $$ that way.

Idk about current JVC products, but I always liked their "Digifine" series back in the 90's...

 

[Lurch]

That thing the CD player is sitting on is a Bright Star Big Rock III isolation platform that cost me about $200 IIRR. It really improves the SQ. It's like a wooden tray filled with beach sand with a wooden platform that sits in the sand and absorbs micro vibrations. I can really notice a lower SQ without it.

I got that stuff before I went online in 1998, so I have no idea how I decided on these brands without the internet to guide me. I must have been calling the 800 numbers a lot.

At that time I also bought a pair of Boston Acoustic CR8 speakers on Spica steel stands [that I still have], and some expensive [for me] cables and interconnects.

 

[Lurch]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Nice Yamaha.


I got a super deal on that 2 years ago for $111 shipped. Heard about it on Fatwallet.com.

When I got rid of my NAD separates around 2006, I got a super deal on a new Onkyo for about $110 shipped. The Yamaha was an upgrade from that, with more power and XM radio built in, which I wanted. Sold the Onkyo for $100 and paid about $20 out of pocket to get the Yamaha. I like the Yammy. It sounds nice on XM and playing CDs. It's the first Yamaha receiver I ever had and has been awesome so far.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: Lurch
I got that stuff before I went online in 1998, so I have no idea how I decided on these brands without the internet to guide me. I must have been calling the 800 numbers a lot.

I remember spending a lot of time looking at pretty brochures of speakers and electronics back then. A stack of brochures on the corner of the coffee table often got me drooling. I was kind of disappointed when I was looking at B&W speakers a few weeks ago and they didn't have any brochures. He just told me to look at the website.

 

[heathenbrewing]

Originally Posted By: Lurch

Way off topic here, but is that a DIY shelf system. Looks like long bolts and nuts to me.

Care to chare some details? It looks awesome imo. Custom heights, industrial looks....sweet!

 

[Lurch]

Hi,

I bought that rack on clearance at http://www.audioadvisor.com/. I think it was about $350 but can't remember who makes it. You can spend $10,000 on speaker cables at that place.

Mine cost about $100.

I also got my speaker stands, interconnects, cables, and the Big Rock III from them. Some guy named Dave was the sales rep and was very helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[helix_rider]

My most audibly noticable audio-related purchase so far is my pair of early 80's Realistic Mach-One speakers. Unfortunately, I got the later version (cat. no. 40-4029). They have a 6-ohm (I believe) woofer instead of 8-ohms, but a much better power-handling capacity due to the ferrofluid cooled mid horn and tweeter.

Definately rock-concert speakers that suprising do a really good job on Classical as well. Plus with 15" woofers there's no need for a Subwoofer.

Pair these up with a Pioneer VSD-D1S and everything sounds great.

 

[Lurch]

My first receiver was a Sherwood S7900a with 65 WRMS.

Then I got a great deal on a new Pioneer SX-1010 with 100 WRMS. About 1980 I got a Pioneer SX-980 with 80 WRMS, which lasted me about 15 years.