This query may be best suited to original Philips/Sony scientists who were involved with the CD project. But anyone can chime in.
A vlogger on YouTube claims that the latest CD players are the best-sounding CD players of the ~40-year history of the format.
Whether the vlogger REALLY believes that and/or is saying that (because of $$ support from manufs b/c that's what pays the bills) is anyone's guess.
Part of the basis of the vlogger's claim is the assumption that a huge amount of R&D was done for the Red Book format to assure smooth data transmission. We assume Sony/Philips included controlled listening tests.
But say you had your favourite DAC chip ... OS or NOS is unimportant as is the output section. What is important is the decoder chip, CD transport, SSD/HDD .. all that stuff before the DAC chip. And you can pick your favourite CD transport and file transport. And for file playback, let's stick with 16/44.1 WAV.
So ... all held equal ... which will measure best? Which will sound best?
Couple of interesting things from the video:
--Quite a significant number of high-end manufs that are STILL making and releasing new CD or optical-disc payback models. (Audiolab, CEC, Roksan, etc. etc.)
--Stats on new CD sales (year by year, and total format history).
• Physical album shipments in the U.S. 2019 | Statista
So, yeah ... the CD format can be milked for quite a while ... especially 2nd hand.
A vlogger on YouTube claims that the latest CD players are the best-sounding CD players of the ~40-year history of the format.
Whether the vlogger REALLY believes that and/or is saying that (because of $$ support from manufs b/c that's what pays the bills) is anyone's guess.
Part of the basis of the vlogger's claim is the assumption that a huge amount of R&D was done for the Red Book format to assure smooth data transmission. We assume Sony/Philips included controlled listening tests.
But say you had your favourite DAC chip ... OS or NOS is unimportant as is the output section. What is important is the decoder chip, CD transport, SSD/HDD .. all that stuff before the DAC chip. And you can pick your favourite CD transport and file transport. And for file playback, let's stick with 16/44.1 WAV.
So ... all held equal ... which will measure best? Which will sound best?
Couple of interesting things from the video:
--Quite a significant number of high-end manufs that are STILL making and releasing new CD or optical-disc payback models. (Audiolab, CEC, Roksan, etc. etc.)
--Stats on new CD sales (year by year, and total format history).
• Physical album shipments in the U.S. 2019 | Statista
So, yeah ... the CD format can be milked for quite a while ... especially 2nd hand.
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The only thing I know for certain is that if I bought a really good CD player and compared it to playing back a FLAC ripped from one of my CDs through any of my DACs, I don't think I would be able to tell the difference. Even if I could tell a slight difference, I couldn't say which is objectively "better", just like when I compare my DACs. I can only say which one I like better.
I didn't abandon CD format because it is objectively (or even subjectively) inferior to my DACs, I abandoned it because it is far less convenient and the DACs sound superb. It is also a hell of a lot more practical and simple (for me personally) to build my own DACs than to build a CD player.
At some point this is all a matter of splitting hairs and/or diminishing returns (aka "measurebation").
I didn't abandon CD format because it is objectively (or even subjectively) inferior to my DACs, I abandoned it because it is far less convenient and the DACs sound superb. It is also a hell of a lot more practical and simple (for me personally) to build my own DACs than to build a CD player.
At some point this is all a matter of splitting hairs and/or diminishing returns (aka "measurebation").
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First of all, there is only one mechanism available, from Sanyo,
aimed for use for DVD/SACD/CD. I think it is called SF-HD850
Every brand has to buy that, they have no other choice as all other manufacturers have left the market,
even Sony and Philips
Second, early Analog-Digital converters like Soundstream worked with sample frequencies around 50kHz.
44.1 became a standaard because of using VHS Tape for storing the digital data.
AFAIK 44.1 was somehow related to the NTSC TV-Standard
aimed for use for DVD/SACD/CD. I think it is called SF-HD850
Every brand has to buy that, they have no other choice as all other manufacturers have left the market,
even Sony and Philips
Second, early Analog-Digital converters like Soundstream worked with sample frequencies around 50kHz.
44.1 became a standaard because of using VHS Tape for storing the digital data.
AFAIK 44.1 was somehow related to the NTSC TV-Standard
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Sanyo
What was Sanyo's "best" mechanism (past or present)?
I was just gonna post about that... that (??) Sanyo mech seem to be the default for many current-production high-end disc players. Not sure about McIntosh or Chord, tho'?
What was Sanyo's "best" mechanism (past or present)?
About high-end, modern CD players and use of source components ...
The $5000 USD Hegel Mohican (from Norway?) apparently also uses a Sanyo drive and AKM4490 DAC. It gets quite a lot of attention from reviewers and influencers ...
The $5000 USD Hegel Mohican (from Norway?) apparently also uses a Sanyo drive and AKM4490 DAC. It gets quite a lot of attention from reviewers and influencers ...
I can imagine sipping some Brandy, listening to Rage Against the Machine on that player, and discussing the Hegelian dialectic (or the literature of James Fenimore Cooper).
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Sanyo CD Drive
I don't think it's a Sony ... unless Hegel themselves are not being honest on their product page: "Sanyo CD Drive"
A main criteria for most current manufs of optical players is that they use components that are in-production and supported by parent manuf. I think only Sanyo is making drive for std.-sized (home shelf) models.
I don't think it's a Sony ... unless Hegel themselves are not being honest on their product page: "Sanyo CD Drive"
A main criteria for most current manufs of optical players is that they use components that are in-production and supported by parent manuf. I think only Sanyo is making drive for std.-sized (home shelf) models.
It is always a little bit confusing, as SF-HD850 is more often used
for the laser head than the drive. I assume the drive´s name is DVM-34 and / or DM-3381
This company produces mechs for High-End companies,
this is just thet Sanyo drive in a sexy aluminium shell.
PRODUCTS | SUOS-Hifi
The last Sony mech I knowwas KHM-313 - that cheap, they used only one steel rail.
But was used by Accuphase.
Could be, that Hitachi still builts a mechanism: HOP-1200
It reads CD/DVD/SACD
and AKAIK can be found in the high end Yamaha / Denon / Accuphase and Marantz Players...
for the laser head than the drive. I assume the drive´s name is DVM-34 and / or DM-3381
This company produces mechs for High-End companies,
this is just thet Sanyo drive in a sexy aluminium shell.
PRODUCTS | SUOS-Hifi
The last Sony mech I knowwas KHM-313 - that cheap, they used only one steel rail.
But was used by Accuphase.
Could be, that Hitachi still builts a mechanism: HOP-1200
It reads CD/DVD/SACD
and AKAIK can be found in the high end Yamaha / Denon / Accuphase and Marantz Players...
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It looks very like the mech in my Marantz Pearl- Lite SA-CD which I actually asked about on here many years ago and was told it was a Pioneer Loader...
Anyone recognise this pickup/mech ?
Anyone recognise this pickup/mech ?
Attachments
Can anyone guess the make and model of this mech.? Clue: from a low-end Japanese-brand CD/DVD player after ~2005. (The T-shaped clamp plate is not in its default position; it was unscrewed to expose the laser, spindle, etc.)
