Playing cd's on newer DVD Players

[supergenius365]

I just bought an HD DVD player (not Blu ray). My cd player died and I have been playing cds on my 10 year old DVD player. Should cds, in theory, sound better on the HD player? Have the lasers/technology or anything improved in the last 10 years or so for playing cds?

Thanks,
J

[amigo30]

Hey Supergenius,

You know you just bought a dead-format player, right? Blu-Ray won the game about a year or so ago. It's official.

http://gizmodo.com/357957/toshiba-kills-hd-dvd-official

In response to your question about it sounding better for CD's, the answer is a resounding "maybe".

A top quality cd player purchased today sounds far better than a top quality cd player from the days of lore, due to better oversampling techniques, better error correction circuits, better D/A conversion/better chips/better power supplies.

Cheap gear still sounds like cheap gear.

What brand and model number player did you buy? What have you got it hooked up to?

[supergenius365]

Hey Supergenius,

You know you just bought a dead-format player, right? Blu-Ray won the game about a year or so ago. It's official.

http://gizmodo.com/357957/toshiba-kills-hd-dvd-official

In response to your question about it sounding better for CD's, the answer is a resounding "maybe".

A top quality cd player purchased today sounds far better than a top quality cd player from the days of lore, due to better oversampling tequniques, better D/A conversion/better chips/better power supplies.

Cheap gear still sounds like cheap gear.

What brand and model number player did you buy? What have you got it hooked up to?

You know, I just don't give a crap about movies. I was comparing Blu-ray and HD DVD players, and Blu Ray has a bunch of features I will never use unless the regular DVD disappears. Plus the HD DVD was about 1/4 the price of the Blu ray. I just know that regular DVD's on my old DVD player into my new HD TV look like poop. I just want to watch concert footage and Star Wars every now and then with a decent picture. I don't want to go out and buy all new Blu ray discs of what I all ready have. If the HD DVD player makes cd's sound better, then I will run it through my amplifier/tuner. If not, I will just keep my old DVD player hooked up to the amp until I can afford a "real" cd player.....and a nicer turntable......and a better amp..........CURSE YOU G.A.S.!

It is a Sony DVP-NS710H HD DVD into an early 90's Denon receiver, which is so-so. I just picked up some new speakers, though, and the improvement in sound quality was very nice. I am hoping this HD DVD player works out the same way for my cd's. I know the DVD's will look nicer.

Thanks for the help.
J

[amigo30]

Since you are using a relatively newer player and an older reciever (and the older Denons had good amps in them), you might try using the analogue audio outputs on your new player rather than the digital outputs. You may find it sounds better that way (or you may not), depending on which one has the better D/A converters. It's worth the experiment as it is possible it could have a significant impact on the sound.

Good luck with it.

[supergenius365]

The Denon only has analog, so not much choice there.

Worst case scenario, I need to go cd player shopping in the future.

Thanks again,
J

[JSeth]

man! don't get me started!!! Oops... too late!

I recently bought a Samsung CD/DVD player, as mine finally took a crap on me... this is one of the "upscaling" players - but I use it mostly for CDs... and the damn thing would not play cds worth a s**t... it would arbitrarily decide to skip songs, end songs (with time left in the tune), or just plain refuse to play 'em... of course, these are cds that I know play just fine...

I actually got another one (thinking, as the salesperson said - different store now - that I got a 'bad' one...) - Best Buy kind of threw it in when I bought a new TV. Same story - even worse than the first one.

I picked up the cheap Philips at Costco for $35 and it works just fine, thankfully...

[supergenius365]

Played a little Sinatra/Jobim last night. The HD DVD definitely had a more detailed presentation. Maybe not in the hi-fi world, but not too shabby for me right now.