Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output

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Doublej

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Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« on: 1 Dec 2023, 01:45 pm »
I bought a WiiM Pro Plus and it has only a SPDIF input for digital so I am looking for a cheap, sub $100 device that I can use as a CD transport.

Anybody have a recommendation? All I can find are DVD and Blu-ray players with coaxial outputs.

lokie

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #1 on: 1 Dec 2023, 04:08 pm »
Some of the old school high end DVD players can make competent transports.
I have been using a Denon 3910 that I repurposed years ago as a transport and it sounds pretty good.
The top end old Marantz, Sony and Denon's are built well. 


Doublej

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #3 on: 1 Dec 2023, 06:15 pm »
Yes, something with an optical output and a solid mechanism. Time to peruse my local Facebook marketplace and Craig's List.


WGH

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #4 on: 1 Dec 2023, 06:27 pm »
A Coaxial to SPDIF (Optical) Digital Audio Converter are around $15. The converter will last longer than any DVD or Blu-ray player freeing you up to buy any player you like. I always bought the $30-$50 DVD players for my woodshop because they always filled up with sawdust and stopped working after a couple of years.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N32C5GT/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B01N32C5GT&pd_rd_w=5JB14&content-id=amzn1.sym.f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_p=f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_r=VQQR7T5WQ8Q66JMJVJ1A&pd_rd_wg=omGLz&pd_rd_r=941f4874-4672-4a49-a565-d50f2b7a1688&s=electronics&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

gerchin

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #5 on: 1 Dec 2023, 06:35 pm »
Be careful when using the S/PDIF output on DVD players. I seem to recall that several of them resample internally from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz when playing CDs.

WGH

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #6 on: 1 Dec 2023, 08:04 pm »
I seem to recall that several of them resample internally from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz when playing CDs.

Is that a bad thing? And how would a person find out if a $50 Sony resampled the Coax output? And resampling probably makes it sound better, that is why almost every DAC on the planet resamples, even the excellent sounding Denafrips R2R DACs resample a little in the background.

SET Man

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #7 on: 1 Dec 2023, 10:39 pm »
I bought a WiiM Pro Plus and it has only a SPDIF input for digital so I am looking for a cheap, sub $100 device that I can use as a CD transport.

Anybody have a recommendation? All I can find are DVD and Blu-ray players with coaxial outputs.

Hey!

    If you are only going to play CD, just get one of the older CD player... Sony, JVC and etc. Older ones with swing arm laser seems to be good. Don't use the DVD player, since it full of other stuffs for the video that could have noises and etc.
    I'm currently using a Sony CDR pro machine as a transport and it sounds fine. Although, I have to admit that I've never had expensive transport to compare it with though.
    I also have a Sony SACD changer from the early 2000's and a single disc JVC with swing arm laser from mid 1990's. And yes, each transport sound different, at the end I prefer the Sony CDR.


wushuliu

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #8 on: 2 Dec 2023, 06:02 am »
Old Oppo DVD Player, like the 980 etc...

Letitroll98

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #9 on: 2 Dec 2023, 12:17 pm »
Old Oppo DVD Player, like the 980 etc...

Good advice.

snaimpally

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #10 on: 2 Dec 2023, 01:38 pm »
I had done a bit of research a few years back and ended up buying an Audiolab 6000CDT. Do a search and you will find lots of excellent reviews. It uses a slot loading mechanism to clamp the CD for better quality output. It is an excellent CD player. I have a lot of music in the form of FLAC files and it didn't have a USB input so I ended up replacing the Audiolab with another CD player that has a USB input on the front. Mine has been sitting in the closet so let me know if you are interested in buying it - just sent you a DM. I have the box and remote.

gerchin

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #11 on: 2 Dec 2023, 01:58 pm »
Is that a bad thing?

Only you can answer that for yourself. Personally, if any processing is to be done to the digital signal, I prefer to do it myself. (I wrote audio DSP firmware for a living for a very long time.)

Folks can be as fastidious about bit-perfect audio as they are about cables or capacitors.

Quote
And how would a person find out if a $50 Sony resampled the Coax output?

In my case, I had to synchronize downstream equipment to the signal stream. Wrong sampling rate = no sync.

Quote
And resampling probably makes it sound better ...

Again, only you can determine that for yourself.

WGH

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #12 on: 2 Dec 2023, 10:10 pm »
...I had to synchronize downstream equipment to the signal stream. Wrong sampling rate = no sync.

That is not a concern with the WiiM Pro Plus:

Input via the SPDIF (Optical) is up to 192kHz/24-bit and it will output up to 768kHz/32-bit and DSD512.


I like a dedicated CD player interface much better than than the cheapo DVD players I have used.

V-Fi

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #13 on: 6 Dec 2023, 09:03 pm »
It's going to be hard to find a CD player at your price. Like you said DVD players can be found but CD only tends to be at least a couple hundred like entry level Marantz or NAD. Going below $100 for used models means going much older and maybe reliability problems.

Cayin makes a Mini CD mk2 for around $280. That's the closest I can find.

WGH

Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #14 on: 6 Dec 2023, 09:48 pm »
... looking for a cheap, sub $100 device that I can use as a CD transport.

I just discovered CD Carousel Players are still a thing.

The Sony CDP-C515 has SPDIF out
Manual: https://www.manua.ls/sony/cdp-c215/manual?file=943866
There are a bunch on eBay $64.55


Bob2

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azimuth48

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #16 on: 30 Jan 2024, 02:50 am »
Look for an older Magnavox or Phillips.

donyue

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #17 on: 26 Mar 2024, 03:57 pm »
I have an old Sony CD/DVD 5 disc player with a SPDIF optical output.  Pretty sure it should work fine for basic CD sound quality. 

minatophase3

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Re: Recommendation for CD transport with SPDIF output
« Reply #18 on: 26 Mar 2024, 11:47 pm »
I bought this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F9XHBI?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Was looking for a cheap CD player that I could use if the internet goes down.  I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounded when plugged into my Holo Audio Spring 3 DAC.