My old component CD player died, and I'm looking for a replacement. My
stereo system is old (i.e., pre-dates digital) and medium-high-end, at least
for its day. All I want is a reasonably-priced CD component that renders a
clean audio signal, but most everything for sale these days is a monstrous
contraption. I have nothing against buying a carousel, but I figure a
complex mechanical device is more likely to break than a simple CD tray. I
only found one simple CD player; the TEAC CD-P1250. Does anybody want to
tell me I'd be stupid to buy this, and I'll get noticeably better sound from
a modern carousel or other specialty (but not too expensive) item?

http://www.teac.com/consumer_electro...s/CD-P1250.htm

Talkin Horse wrote:
My old component CD player died, and I'm looking for a replacement.

Most, if not all, DVD players will play CDs as well. You can get one at
Walmart for about $40.

For about a decade, I used a Sony Discman as my CD player hooked up to
my main stereo. It eventually broke, so then I switched to a cheap Sony
single disc DVD player which had a remote. Recently, I merged my
computer and stereo, and now just use my DVD-RW drive to play CDs. Any
of these option will cost under $50.

"Bruce C. Miller" wrote in message
ups.com...
Most, if not all, DVD players will play CDs as well. You can get one at
Walmart for about $40.

For about a decade, I used a Sony Discman as my CD player hooked up to
my main stereo. It eventually broke, so then I switched to a cheap Sony
single disc DVD player which had a remote. Recently, I merged my
computer and stereo, and now just use my DVD-RW drive to play CDs. Any
of these option will cost under $50.

Thanks, yes, I did think about that, and I may do it yet. The DVD players
are more versatile, and can presumably play a greater variety of formats.
But I was inclined towards a CD-specific player on the theory that 1) The
DVD players would be more complicated to use and would probably be optimized
to utilize an on-screen TV display, as opposed to the simple and complete
display on the face of a CD unit, and 2) A CD player might do a better job
rendering the audio, since that's the only thing it does, whereas the
function might be an afterthought for the DVD player.

Talkin Horse wrote:
1) The
DVD players would be more complicated to use and would probably be op
to utilize an on-screen TV display, as opposed to the simple and comp
display on the face of a CD unit, and

All DVD players I've used didn't need an on-screen display just to play
CDs. The Sony DVD player I mentioned using was never hooked up to a TV.
The only buttons I used where the normal CD player ones. Most also have
LCD displays that will be adequate for showing the track info.

2) A CD player might do a better job
rendering the audio, since that's the only thing it does, whereas the
function might be an afterthought for the DVD player.

If it does, I can't tell the difference. The only thing I noticed was
that using a DVD player took about an extra 2 seconds to read the TOC
and start playing. Probably because it had to check the disc type
instead of just assuming it was a CD. The computer takes longer too.

The only downside I can see to getting a $40 DVD player is that they're
usually cheap and flimsy. They'll probably break in a few years of
daily use. CD-ROM drives seem to be the same way. After reading several
1000s of discs, the mechanical parts eventually fail.

"Talkin Horse" wrote in message
k.net...
"Bruce C. Miller" wrote in message
ups.com...
Most, if not all, DVD players will play CDs as well. You can get one at
Walmart for about $40.

For about a decade, I used a Sony Discman as my CD player hooked up to
my main stereo. It eventually broke, so then I switched to a cheap Sony
single disc DVD player which had a remote. Recently, I merged my
computer and stereo, and now just use my DVD-RW drive to play CDs. Any
of these option will cost under $50.

Thanks, yes, I did think about that, and I may do it yet. The DVD players
are more versatile, and can presumably play a greater variety of formats.
But I was inclined towards a CD-specific player on the theory that 1) The
DVD players would be more complicated to use and would probably be
optimized to utilize an on-screen TV display, as opposed to the simple and
complete display on the face of a CD unit, and 2) A CD player might do a
better job rendering the audio, since that's the only thing it does,
whereas the function might be an afterthought for the DVD player.

Your number 1 is definitely a concern. DVD players definitely take longer
to get going, and many of them have inadequate front panel displays. My
Technics CD player has a remarkably complete display, and for that reason I
still use it. Your number 2 should not be an issue. I haven't noticed the
slightest diminution in quality because CD is an "afterthought." I believe
that ALL DVD players must play CDs; it's one of the license requirements.

On that same subject, it will probably be a license requirement that all
Blu-Ray or HD-DVD players must play CDs as well as regular DVDs. The number
of optical disc protocols is staggering. What would a universal player have
to handle if it were to be capable of playing any 8 or 12cm optical disc:

CD, CDR, CDRW, VCD, JPEG, Kodak picture CD, CDR or RW encoded with mp3, wma,
aac, ogg, DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM. DVD encoded with
uncompressed or compressed audio at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 or 192kB/s, SACD.
DVDR encoded with the same compressed formats as CDR. The list is enormous,
and I'm sure I missed a few. I know of no player that will handle more than
a fraction of the above list, although it's theoretically possible.

Norm Strong

wrote:
Your number 1 is definitely a concern. DVD players definitely take
longer
to get going, and many of them have inadequate front panel displays.

What exactly do you need besides a track number and the time
elapsed/remaining?

CD, CDR, CDRW, VCD, JPEG, Kodak picture CD, CDR or RW encoded with
mp3, wma,
aac, ogg, DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM. DVD encoded
with
uncompressed or compressed audio at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 or 192kB/s,
SACD.
DVDR encoded with the same compressed formats as CDR. The list is
enormous,
and I'm sure I missed a few. I know of no player that will handle
more than
a fraction of the above list, although it's theoretically possible.

My PC can

I would probably look at a moderately priced universal player, all
things considered.

On Mon, 25 Apr 2005 10:11:36 GMT, "Talkin Horse"
wrote:

My old component CD player died, and I'm looking for a replacement. My
stereo system is old (i.e., pre-dates digital) and medium-high-end, at least
for its day. All I want is a reasonably-priced CD component that renders a
clean audio signal, but most everything for sale these days is a monstrous
contraption. I have nothing against buying a carousel, but I figure a
complex mechanical device is more likely to break than a simple CD tray. I
only found one simple CD player; the TEAC CD-P1250. Does anybody want to
tell me I'd be stupid to buy this, and I'll get noticeably better sound from
a modern carousel or other specialty (but not too expensive) item?

http://www.teac.com/consumer_electro...s/CD-P1250.htm

I strongly dislike cd/dvd changers. I forget which ones are in which
slot, etc. I've had good luck with the Pioneer 578A which plays dvds,
sacds, mp3s, dvd A, WMAs, CD Rs, etc.. I paid 100.00 or so a few
months ago. I think it's gone down since then.

Andy Katz