CD-players: what are they and how to choose?

The market for musical equipment is constantly replenished with new products, and digital equipment is replacing conventional receivers, players and tape recorders. At the same time, CD-players continue to be popular, since their modern models allow not only playing audio files, but also recording sound, watching videos. To purchase such a device, it is important to take into account many nuances, pay attention to the brand and reviews about it.

A CD player is a portable device with which you can listen to music and watch movies. This device is often used in home theater systems because it can be connected to a Hi-Fi speaker system. Today manufacturers produce models that have many connectors and are able to read files of different formats.

The design of the CD player looks like a round device, on the body of which there are many function buttons. Stationary turntables differ from portable ones in size, weight and functionality. The principle of operation of this technique is based on laser reading of information. All CD players include a laser head for digital transmission.

Each model of the CD player differs not only in design, constructive features, but also in the method of loading discs, of which there are four.

• Frontal. Has a special front tray in which you need to place a disc. This is the most common type of turntable, the price for them is average.

• Crevice. Loading discs in such models is carried out using rubberized rollers located along the edges of the slot. The disadvantage of devices with this type of loading is that the rubber on the rollers wears out quickly.

• Upper. This type of download is usually equipped with expensive high-end turntable models.

• Carousel (shop). It is not in great demand, as it is considered an obsolete technology. Differs from previous designs by the ability to load multiple discs at the same time.

Now on sale you can find home (installed on a special rack), concert (differ in the presence of sound amplifiers) and professional players with a wide range of functions. Each of these types has its own pros and cons. Therefore, when purchasing a device, it is important to consider this.

Despite the fact that recently the market of musical equipment is represented by digital equipment, many manufacturers continue to produce CD-players. The most famous manufacturing firms include:

• Yamaha;
• Vincent;
• Tascam;
• Marantz;
• Pioneer;
• Onkyo;
• Denon;
• Cambridge Audio.

All of the above companies have been working on the market for a long time, and their products are very popular in all countries of the world. The players of these manufacturers are characterized by excellent sounding of music tracks, wide functionality and long service life.

When purchasing CD players, it is necessary to take into account not only their purpose, functionality, but also user reviews about a particular model.On the market you can find both expensive and budget versions of CD-players that have high functionality. That's why not always the price indicator is the main one.

Mid-range CD players have a sufficient level of quality, are convenient to use, but due to the desire of manufacturers to reduce the cost of their design as much as possible, they cannot boast of high functionality. These models include a number of devices.

• Marantz CD5005. This turntable is soft-sounding and perfectly reproduces both high and mid frequencies. It is inexpensive, but to use it, you need to buy an amplifier and powerful speakers separately, which will entail additional costs. Advantages of the model: dynamic range - 100 dB, signal-to-noise ratio - from 110 dB, presence of a Cirrus Logic CS4398 multi-bit audio processor, coaxial, line and optical outputs. It should be noted that all connectors in the device are gold-plated. Cons: lack of support for wireless technologies, a separate slot for a memory card, a USB port, does not come with a remote control, and does not read DVD discs.

• Onkyo C-7070. This model is available in classic black or silver colors and has a very attractive design. Music discs are loaded from the front tray. The device comes with a USB port, which also allows you to play music from a USB flash drive. There are problems with FLAC support in this model - files of this format need to be converted to WAV. The advantages of the product include: anti-vibration housing, high sound quality, all connectors are gold-plated. Disadvantages - Above average price, lack of DVD support.

• Tascam MD-CD1. It is a portable music player with a wide variety of connectors, buttons and controls. Externally, the device resembles an old tape recorder, as for functionality, it is endowed with two CD-decks, PS / 2 input, perfectly combines the technical characteristics of an MD-recorder and a CD-player. The portable player also supports MP3 format. Advantages: dynamic range - 100 dB, very high sound quality. Disadvantages: not very attractive design, inability to install an SD card, the cost is higher than average, does not read DVD, strong disc heating during playback ..

• The review may complete the PrimaLuna ProLogue Classic CD tube turntable, consisting of 6 lamps located at the bottom of the body. In addition, lamps are present in the output frame, power supply and clock generator. The manufacturer equips the device with a heavy and large remote control. Pros of the model: soft sound, affordable price. Cons: little bass, depletes timbres

Unlike mid-range CD-players, high-end devices have much better playback quality and wider functionality. This allows them to be used as an external DAC. In addition, all models have a USB interface. Here are the most common high-end turntables that have received many positive reviews.

• Denon DCD-720AE. This model has minimal control and comes with round buttons. Serious adjustments are made using a universal remote control. Manufacturers have supplemented the design with a 32-bit DAC, so the sound is good, it is output through the optical and line outputs. There is also the possibility of connecting headphones. Advantages: external IR sensor, original design, plays MP3 format. Cons: does not support DVDs, the sound from the disc is interrupted when a flash drive is inserted.

• Pioneer CDJ-900. This portable player will not leave anyone indifferent - both the ordinary music lover and the DJ.The manufacturer equips it with a full-fledged control panel, with which you can not only adjust the playback speed, but also apply different effects. This model does not have a tray for discs, they are inserted into a small slot, while you can play music from a CD and USB drive. Pioneer CDJ-900 supports Hi-End, Hi-Fi and HID, MIDI functions. Pros: many settings, high-quality assembly, convenient and simple sorting of tracks, perfect sound. Cons: exorbitant price, cannot read FLAC format.

• Yamaha CD-S300. This network player has a built-in power supply, a remote control and a front disc loading slot. The device supports CD-RW, MP3, CD-Text, CD-R and WMA formats. The package also includes vintage headphones, which allows you to listen to music in privacy. Advantages: excellent assembly, "silent" drive, great sounding, available with a USB flash drive input. Disadvantages: a little-functional remote control, there may be problems with reading information in formats other than MP3, a simple menu.

Before purchasing musical equipment of this type, you need to make the right choice in favor of a particular model, having previously familiarized yourself with its technical capabilities. It is easy to choose a high-quality player will help the recommendations of experts.

• First of all, you should decide on the type of format that the device should support. Today on sale you can find stylish players that read all formats, but the price for them is high. Therefore, if you choose a budget option, you need to clarify whether it supports such standard formats as WMA, MP3 and SACD. In the case when more professional equipment is required, it is advisable to choose models that support not only CD, but also CD-R, CD-Text and CD-RW.
• The next important indicator for this device is the maximum power. The playback volume will depend on it. For those who like to listen to music loudly, you need to buy a player with a power of 12 watts or more.
• The presence of additional functions in the device also plays a huge role. It is best to give preference to structures equipped with a control panel, as this will allow you to control the gadget at a certain distance. The presence of a power supply unit also does not hurt. A huge advantage of the model will be the equipment with headphones, since there may be problems with their selection.
• Separately, it is necessary to pay attention to the built-in changer of the player, for how many discs it is designed for. There are now many models available that can load multiple discs at the same time.

In addition to all of the above, the main indicator when choosing a device is the ability to connect it to wired and wireless interfaces. So, the presence of AirPlay allows you to connect the player directly to the system and display information about the artist, the name of the song on the screen. As for the wireless interface, it is usually needed in two cases: to connect to a smartphone, tablet and for direct communication with a computer network.

Many find it difficult to make a choice in favor of a conventional or tube turntable, which provides for a built-in amplifier. Lamp models are large, so they require a lot of free space for placement. In addition, they have a complicated type of construction, which increases the cost.

In the next video you will find an overview of the Denon DCD-720AE CD-player.