CD or DVD?

[Motzart]

I'm wanting to upgrade my Sony 5 disk DVD and my JVC 5 disk CD to a piece of Yamaha equipment.
I'm told many companies are eliminating CD players for CD/DVD players.
Is this really true?

IF I were to get a CD/DVD player can I hook it up to both my CD section and DVD section of my reciever?

When I want to play music Cd's switch to "CD"
When I want to play DVD switch to "DVD"

I've been out of the loop technology wise for about 8yrs so it's time for me to do a lil catchup! :o

[daboyz]

If you get a DVD player that also plays cd's then you will go with DVD at all times. You are playing on a DVD player so that is what your receiver is going to read.

[Motzart]

Ok I wasn't sure...still catching up to todays technology.
I dunno if I like having em both in one or 2 seperate units?

Anyone have input on this?

[Keiko]

I have a Yamaha Universal. I'm using the DVD inputs on my receiver. CD audio signals are automatically down mixed and output as 2 channel. While I like the idea of changers, I've found from my experience with them that they are more prone to mechanical failure than a single disc transport. Which model are you planning to buy?

Edit: If you have the space, dedicated separates would be better IMO.

[Motzart]

Gosh I dunno....
Has anyone else had bad luck with changers here?

I've had my eye on a Yamaha DVD-S2500.

Can be had on evil bay for much less than the MSRP of $800.
Local store has em for $400.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...PRODUCT&LGFL=Y

I like a single for my DVD's but a changer is nice for my Music.
Now I'm starting to get a headache!

[Keiko]

The S2500 is an older model. Never owned one, but heard they are quite good. They don't support HDMI so I think 400.00 is a little steep. Especially if you ever decide to get into HD later on.

You could consider the C961 new in that price range.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...2&CTID=5001700

I have the S1800 and have been pleased with it. I paid 400.00 for mine, but Cruthfield has em' now for 250.00.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-heZgl94...px?i=022DV1800

If you want to spend a little more and get something very highly regarded. Check out the Denon 3910.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...ctiveda8749-20

All of these support SACD as well. Something else I can suggest...If you like the changers simply for convenience of not having to get up and change the disc when it's done. Consider an ipod or squeezebox. Stores all your music right at your fingertips. I have a 30gig ipod plugged into my receivers CD inputs and roughly 500 CD's stored on it. Works for me. :)

Good luck and welcome to CP. ;)

[b_dick]

Motzart, I have experienced a drawback to playing CDs on a DVD player if the CD is a recording of a concert, with music, then applause, then music, with no silence in between. My friend's DVD player puts a couple of seconds of silence in between the tracks. I don't know if they all do that, but it sure breaks the mood when it happens.

[Motzart]

The S2500 is an older model. Never owned one, but heard they are quite good. They don't support HDMI so I think 400.00 is a little steep. Especially if you ever decide to get into HD later on.

You could consider the C961 new in that price range.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...2&CTID=5001700

I have the S1800 and have been pleased with it. I paid 400.00 for mine, but Cruthfield has em' now for 250.00.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-heZgl94...px?i=022DV1800

If you want to spend a little more and get something very highly regarded. Check out the Denon 3910.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...ctiveda8749-20

All of these support SACD as well. Something else I can suggest...If you like the changers simply for convenience of not having to get up and change the disc when it's done. Consider an ipod or squeezebox. Stores all your music right at your fingertips. I have a 30gig ipod plugged into my receivers CD inputs and roughly 500 CD's stored on it. Works for me. :)

Good luck and welcome to CP. ;)

That C691 is pretty sweet....my receiver unit don't have HDMI.
Personally I haven't gotten real excited about HDMI.
Good quality composite cable seem to give me the same quality.

[Motzart]

Motzart, I have experienced a drawback to playing CDs on a DVD player if the CD is a recording of a concert, with music, then applause, then music, with no silence in between. My friend's DVD player puts a couple of seconds of silence in between the tracks. I don't know if they all do that, but it sure breaks the mood when it happens.

Egads that would suck!!
I listen to a lot of live concert stuff.....Classical and Dead Can Dance....ect
Would definately ruin the mood.

[Keiko]

That C691 is pretty sweet....my receiver unit don't have HDMI.
Personally I haven't gotten real excited about HDMI.
Good quality composite cable seem to give me the same quality.

For audio I use analog and digital coax. I use HDMI cable from my source player straight to my Sammy HDTV. If you're still using an analog TV and plan on keeping it, that will be fine. However, if later on down the road you decide to buy a HDTV, you will need a player that supports HDMI for high def video.

[Keiko]

A good budget machine for you to consider is the oppo 980H. Some of the guys here like these and speak highly of them. Very good buy IMO, considering everything this machine does.

http://www.oppodigital.com/

[Motzart]

A good budget machine for you to consider is the oppo 980H. Some of the guys here like these and speak highly of them. Very good buy IMO, considering everything this machine does.

http://www.oppodigital.com/

DUHHH I'm half asleep on this end!
I have a Vizio 32" 720p LCD.(All I could afford at the time)
Yeah it's small but my room is only 10.5 x 14

That IS VERY impressive!!

[ajanzalone]

A good budget machine for you to consider is the oppo 980H. Some of the guys here like these and speak highly of them. Very good buy IMO, considering everything this machine does.

http://www.oppodigital.com/

Ok Dumb question time.....

I see all the audio out connection on the back of this unit, which I understand works fine for all the surround sound systems .....

But how do we hook up a vintage 2 channel stereo ???
Which output is a clean stereo feed to the preamp?

Old and out of the loop also. ( I just read about SACD)
Tony

[Motzart]

Ok Dumb question time.....

I see all the audio out connection on the back of this unit, which I understand works fine for all the surround sound systems .....

But how do we hook up a vintage 2 channel stereo ???
Which output is a clean stereo feed to the preamp?

Old and out of the loop also. ( I just read about SACD)
Tony

I would say front mixed?
But I'm no expert by any means.
Right or wrong that's what I'd do.

[Keiko]

Ok Dumb question time.....

I see all the audio out connection on the back of this unit, which I understand works fine for all the surround sound systems .....

But how do we hook up a vintage 2 channel stereo ???
Which output is a clean stereo feed to the preamp?

Old and out of the loop also. ( I just read about SACD)
Tony

Simple, for 2 channel just connect to the front/mixed outputs. Multi-channel audio will be down mixed through these outputs. For 2 channel audio it would output normally.

[ajanzalone]

Simple, for 2 channel just connect to the front/mixed outputs.

Ok that was too easy....lol

Thanks

[Keiko]

Ok that was too easy....lol

Thanks

You're welcome. SACD is awesome by the way and can be played in high rez 2 channel. Some like it in multi-channel, but I myself prefer the high rez 2 channel better.

[xandra]

You could consider the C961 new in that price range.

I also have that changer. Vid quality pretty good, sound decent, pretty accepting of most disks. Also has a pretty nice chapter scan feature.
My only real gripe is Interface. Interface kindof poor (you first have to select the currently active setting before changing it -- ie you can't simply select your desired setting-- pretty funky. Also you have to remove all disks to adjust speaker levels!
All these manufacturers have a thing to learn about interface from Panasonic. Really too bad Panny not more interested in higher audio quality.

The nicest part about this unit is that it can play SACD via HDMI (pretty useful since it doesn't really provide proper bass management. Also Be aware that it converts SACD to PCM. (there's a non-ending dispute as to whether or not this is a really bad thing). In the end it's not a hi-end SACD player, but you won't find one with a changer in this price range.

Although you don't have HDMI, it's still a feature in that you're futureproofing your purchase.

For the price it's pretty decent for a jack-of-all-trade type changer, tho it doesn't really excel at anything. It's not a bad choice as a transition player.

[candyliquor35m]

I've had at least 2 changers and never had a problem with them.

[Keiko]

I've had at least 2 changers and never had a problem with them.

Personally, I don't care what you do or what you enjoy. I'd just hate for anyone to take your advice without knowing what your credibility level is. You have a track record for not telling the truth and lacking in basic fundamentals....and people should take that into account when considering your 'advice'.

....or opinions.

[candyliquor35m]

both were sonys which are known to be pretty damn reliable. I did have a magnavox cd changer too but gave it away for obvious reasons.

[Keiko]

both were sonys which are known to be pretty damn reliable. I did have a magnavox cd changer too but gave it away for obvious reasons.

I've owned 2 Sony changers. Both crapped out. Changers, regardless of model have a higher failure rate, period. Peddle your BS somewhere else.

[skykeys]

A good budget machine for you to consider is the oppo 980H. Some of the guys here like these and speak highly of them. Very good buy IMO, considering everything this machine does.

http://www.oppodigital.com/

I second Keiko's recommendation. I just picked up the 980H a couple of weeks ago, and I'm extremely happy with it. It plays all music formats very well and the video quality is impressive also. It sounds great. There is a very easy hack to play PAL formatted DVD movies, which has become important for me because I'm increasingly going to European sources to get SACD disks. Some of these come with DVD videos, and they are in the PAL format.

I highly recommend the Oppo DV-980H. For $170, you can't beat the audio and video quailty. If you're not convinced, I suggest you google the player and read the reviews and various comments from folks like us on the various forums.

Regards.

[xandra]

I've had a Panny 5-disk changer for about 3 years without any probs. That may not sound like a long time but I use it everyday for my aerobics, switching disks minimally 2-4x daily. I'm willing to bet statistically (think I read so in CU?) changers have more potential for mechanical probs, but given the incredible fast pace of aud/vid technologies right now, a decently made one will likely outlive it's usefulness.

[Rivrrat]

I've owned 2 Sony changers. Both crapped out. Changers, regardless of model have a higher failure rate, period. Peddle your BS somewhere else.

I had a Sony cd changer that lasted less than a year. That's the last Sony item I've purchased. I have a Panny dvd changer that's probably on 5 or 6 yrs now, although, it gets pretty limited use now as a cd player/changer.

[Keiko]

The S2500 is an older model. Never owned one, but heard they are quite good. They don't support HDMI so I think 400.00 is a little steep. Especially if you ever decide to get into HD later on.

Need to correct this. I was thinking of the earlier S2300 model that doesn't support HDMI. The S2500 and S2700 models are latter series players that do have HDMI support. I would pass on both of these based on the mixed reviews I've read. I recall a post by Slowcar. He owned the 2700 and it literally destroyed some of his CD's/DVD's. Another member pointed out to me he had layer change issues with his S2700.