DVD-players vs. CD-players

rmihai0 · « **on:** 30 Jan 2005, 01:54 pm »

Is it true that the lens and reading mechanism for DVD-players are different than that for CD-players? The angle the lens are reading on a DVD is different than for a cd? Nad if so, that is why the DVD-players sound so bad when using CD's?

Thank you

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 Jan 2005, 03:49 pm »

The pits of DVD's are smaller and closer together and therefore the beams of a DVD laser are narrower at the level of the pits.

Some DVD Players have two lasers, one for DVD's and one for CD's to have better performance with each media.

Carlman · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 Jan 2005, 06:21 pm »

Quote from: rmihai0

Is it true that the lens and reading mechanism for DVD-players are different than that for CD-players? The angle the lens are reading on a DVD is different than for a cd? Nad if so, that is why the DVD-players sound so bad when using CD's?

Thank you

I've found DVD players sound better than cd-only-players for playing cd's.... especially in the same price range. Every cheap DVD player I've heard (Panasonic, Sony, and Pioneer) has sounded better playing cd's compared to any cd-players I've heard up to $500 or so... sometimes costing even more.

Just a note, always use the multichannel outputs for Left and Right and don't use the 'audio outs'. It seems most of the money is in the multichannel components where they often use better DAC's in that section.

dado5 · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 Jan 2005, 07:18 pm »

I am in limited agreement with carlman. The cheap main brand DVD players sound better than the cheap main brand CDPs. This is especially true of the the Sony DVD-SACD players (NS500V,755V,775V,975V); these are some very fine sounding redbook players.

However, the new entry level CDPs from Rotel (02)and NAD(521BEE) sound noticebly better than any DVD I have heard (including the SONY ES models). My next purchase is going to be the new NAD player.

I owned a few the after-market tube CDPs (Heart and AH!) and ended up prefering the Sony NS500V to both. And now I find the NAD to best the Sony in most areas (except soundstage size). This cheap NAD sounds better than any silver disc spinner I have had in my home so far. And it does not sound like the 521i it replaced. Tighter and deeper bass and much more lively overall.

Rob