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Best home CD player for $150 or less?

Mrvile

Lifer
Looking to purchase a home CD player to use with my headphone setup...I've been eyeing the Sony CE595 SACD player but since I don't have any SACDs, I'm wondering if there are any others that player redbook better. Not looking for anything really fancy - hell, it doesn't even have to have a CD changer. I just want good sound and reliability. Any suggestions?
 
Just get a computer with an chaintech AV-710 soundcard.
It's known to match $800 CD players in sound quality.
Buy yourself a good headphone amp.
 
I would get myself a Chaintech card and a good DAC but my own computer is pretty loud and since all my headphones are open, I need quiet. I have a decent headphone amp already, only looking to upgrade my source. Basically I'm just looking for a CD player with a good built-in DAC to hold me over until I get an external DAC.
 
Originally posted by: astroidea
Get a watercooling kit then 😉
$150 would buy you a pretty nice one.

I do have watercooling.

The pump (DangerDen v4) is pretty loud.

Anyway, maybe I should get a really cheap CD player with digital out and spend the majority of my money on a DAC...
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: FlashG
oppo Refurbished $119 + ship
The point is to get good analog sound output. Does the oppo have good analog sound?
I don't really know jello. I just got one a couple of weeks ago for my Wega and it works great in that application.
Going out new years evin now. Happy New Years all.

 
Originally posted by: FlashG
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: FlashG
oppo Refurbished $119 + ship
The point is to get good analog sound output. Does the oppo have good analog sound?
I don't really know jello. I just got one a couple of weeks ago for my Wega and it works great in that application.
Going out new years evin now. Happy New Years all.

I guess $150 is a bit optomistic for a "good" CD player 😛

I just use my computer then digital out to my pre-pro 😉

I hope the people in the bar downstairs take it easy tonight heh.
 
Actually I just went out and picked up a cheap Philips DVP642 with optical out for $40 and I'm planning to put the rest of my money into a Lite DAC-AH. For now I'll have to put up with the Philips' analog out, which doesn't sound half that bad.
 
Here are the oppo's specs.
It says that it has:
"Unique "Audio Only" mode with video processing turned off for perfect acoustic fidelity
Analog Stereo Audio (Mixed 2-Channel Left/Right): 1 group (2 connectors)
Analog 5.1 Channel Audio: 1 group (6 connectors)"

Universal DVD Player Features:

Superior compatibility with DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD), DivX®, Xvid, Audio CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD and other digital audio and video media/formats
Official DivX® Certified product, certified to the Home Theater Profile
Plays all versions of DivX® video (including DivX® 6) with standard playback of DivX® media files
Plays XviD and .SRT, .SMI, .IDX and .SUB format


Video Up-Conversion Features:

High definition up-conversion with film-like picture quality to up-convert 720x480 interlaced video encoded on DVD discs to 480p/720p/1080i
High-quality pure digital video and audio through a single HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable
Multiple high definition video formats through HDMI and component outputs*: NTSC: 480i/480p/720p/1080i; PAL: 576i/576p/720p/1080i (* Component output for CSS-encrypted DVD discs (almost all commercially pressed DVD discs) is limited to 480i/480p only.)
Compatible with HDTV, HD-Ready TV, HDTV monitors and projectors
For more information about DVD video up-conversion, please read our white paper article Getting the Most out of DVD on an HDTV Display


Optimized Audio Features:

Optimized analog audio circuitry for great audio quality
Built-in Dolby Digital decoder with individual 5.1ch and down-mixed stereo outputs
Optical and coaxial digital audio outputs for Dolby Digital, DTS and Linear PCM
Unique "Audio Only" mode with video processing turned off for perfect acoustic fidelity
3D Surround (Virtual Surround): Concert, Live, Dance, Techno, Classic, Soft
Built-in equalizer, channel trim and channel delay functions


Compatibility Features:

PAL/NTSC disc and TV compatible with automatic or manual system conversion
Compatible with CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW and DVD+R DL* (* Playability of self-recorded discs may vary depending on media and formatting software types)
Enhanced dual-layer disc support with fast layer change
Wide range universal power supply (~100V-240V, 50/60Hz AC)


Standard Video Features:

Progressive scan component outputs (YPbPr)
Composite video and S-Video outputs for standard TVs
Supports screen aspect ratio 4:3 (standard) and 16:9 (wide-screen)
User adjustable video controls: Sharpness, Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Hue and Gamma
Multi-angle view


Convenience Features:

Special disc tray - thin, flexible and strong. Can tolerate some bending without breaking.
4-in-1 flash memory card reader compatible with Memory Stick, Secure Digital, Multi-Media Card, and SmartMedia (MS/SD/MMC/SM)
USB interface for expanded connectivity
Smooth and easy navigation of photo albums, music collections and video files on DVD, CD, flash memory cards and USB disks.
Selectable subtitle and audio tracks
Discrete ON/OFF remote control IR code for programmable universal remote controls


Connectors:

HDMI - High Definition Multimedia Interface: 1
Component Video (YPbPr/YCbCr): 1 group (3 connectors)
Analog Stereo Audio (Mixed 2-Channel Left/Right): 1 group (2 connectors)
Analog 5.1 Channel Audio: 1 group (6 connectors)
S/PDIF (IEC-958) Coaxial Digital Audio: 1
S/PDIF (IEC-958) Optical Digital Audio: 1
Composite Video: 1
S-Video: 1


Accessories Included:

High-quality certified HDMI cable with ferrite core and gold-plated HDMI connectors
Remote control with "glow in the dark" keypad (batteries included)
Stereo audio cable
Composite video cable
User manual and warranty information
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: FlashG
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: FlashG
oppo Refurbished $119 + ship
The point is to get good analog sound output. Does the oppo have good analog sound?
I don't really know jello. I just got one a couple of weeks ago for my Wega and it works great in that application.
Going out new years evin now. Happy New Years all.

I guess $150 is a bit optomistic for a "good" CD player 😛

I just use my computer then digital out to my pre-pro 😉

I hope the people in the bar downstairs take it easy tonight heh.

Alright, you wannabe-BOSE hater. You can get pretty decent quality for $150. Someone mentioned the Oppo 970 model. It is fantastic for audio at that price range. It can play SACD and DVD-A.

I highly recommend the Oppo.
 
Originally posted by: iliopsoas
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: FlashG
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: FlashG
oppo Refurbished $119 + ship
The point is to get good analog sound output. Does the oppo have good analog sound?
I don't really know jello. I just got one a couple of weeks ago for my Wega and it works great in that application.
Going out new years evin now. Happy New Years all.

I guess $150 is a bit optomistic for a "good" CD player 😛

I just use my computer then digital out to my pre-pro 😉

I hope the people in the bar downstairs take it easy tonight heh.

Alright, you wannabe-BOSE hater. You can get pretty decent quality for $150. Someone mentioned the Oppo 970 model. It is fantastic for audio at that price range. It can play SACD and DVD-A.

I highly recommend the Oppo.

I meant more about the quality of tha analog output vs. the formats it can play. I know the analog video quality had been in question on the oppo players, so I wasn't sure on the analog audio output for that player as well. If it's got good analog output then :thumbsup:. I would have gotten an oppo for myself as my DVD player if the component video output was as good as its digital video output 😀

EDIT: and by "good" I meant the audiophile (which I do not claim to be) sense of "good"
 
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