CD or DVD player

[wvdrummer]

I've got the basic of my new system together but I have notice one thing, my CDs do not sound as good as I remember. I'm playing them through my old Samsung DVD player. I have read that although DVD players can play CDs they might not do so as well as a dedicated CD player. I cannot find munch in the way of specifics on this yet. What are y'all's experiences with this?

I'm playing them through a new Onkyo TX-8470 and Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F speakers.

 

[Mr Peabody]

If your Onkyo has a built-in DAC connect from the DVD player with a digital connection to your Onkyo and see if the built-in DAC sounds better.

If no built-in DAC you can add an external DAC or simply buy a new CD player. If you use the DVD player for movies as well the external DAC for music would probably be your best option.

Schiit makes some DAC's for not much money that sound good. Several options but would need your budget.

To answer your question generally a stand alone CD player will sound better than a DVD player for CD playback. I say generally because there have been exceptions especially in higher end multi-format players. Depends on the players being compared.

 

[Bones13]

I've got the basic of my new system together but I have notice one thing, my CDs do not sound as good as I remember. I'm playing them through my old Samsung DVD player. I have read that although DVD players can play CDs they might not do so as well as a dedicated CD player. I cannot find munch in the way of specifics on this yet. What are y'all's experiences with this?

I'm playing them through a new Onkyo TX-8470 and Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F speakers.

Connect the DVD player to either the HDMI, or SPDIF (TOSLink or RCA Coaxial) and try the DAC in the Reciever.

I know that there are CD, SACD, DVD, BluRay, and “Universal” players. I don’t actually know of the specific differences involved in the laser / decoding mechanisms within. I know you can get “better” CD players with improved mechanisms, and electronics (better than consumer gear) I don’t know if your unit will play CDs better/worse than DVDs.

With basic transport, usually getting a digital signal out to a better DAC is the way to go. The DAC in your receiver may be bettte than the one in the DVD player.