Onkyo DX-C390 6CD Changer
$170
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-QeYkd1yEHZO/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=580DXC390&s=0&cc=01

Trying to find a good cd player for my new setup (Onkyo HT-S790) so I can get rid of my panasonic mini-system and use the surround speakers for my music listening.

Is this a good lower-dollar area dedicated cd player? Also if you link me to other things can you try and make sure that the supplier ships internationally? I'm stationed in Okinawa Japan for the next two years.

I like mine. It has been reliable and sounds great. In fact, each time I consider a CDP upgrade, I end up talking myself out of it by listening to the DX-C390 again.
Since Onkyo is Japanese, you should be able to get one there quite easily (and maybe for less $ than here.)

I like mine too. I actually just got mine hooked up over analog, had it over optical before. Very clean sound through analog, though I still prefer my NAD C521 for SQ. The NAD sounds "fuller" while the Onkyo sounds more precise.

The Onkyo is an excellent value with versatility, build quality (quite quiet as well), and killer looks. :)

Look at Onkyo Asia/Oceania's product page (http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/hi-fi_components/cd_players/dx-c390/index.html), I think the Onyko U.S. product page (http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=DX-C390&class=Compact%20Disc&p=i) is quite ugly. Actually the Asia page pushed me over the edge in purchasing the changer, just puts it in a much better light. :)

Just wanted to give a thumbs up for this CDP as well. I picked one up to replace a 1992 vintage Sony ES changer which got moved to a bedroom system. Main system is being fed by the optical output & the analogs are being using to feed the zone2 areas. Sounds every bit as good if not better than the Sony which was a $400+ player. Build quality feels solid, unlike some of the other lightweight players in it's price range. Only complaint is the random play is slow to switch discs & sync, but overall not a huge issue.

-Dave

I picked up a refurb 390 about 3 months ago. Its great and replaced my 15 year old Sony carousel which starting skipping recently.

Sounds great thru analog or digital outputs. The transport mechanism seems very solid too. Its a little slower changing discs than my Sony but works very well. I got mine for a ridiculous refurb price of $82 incl shipping. You can find it on ShopOnkyo for $99 all the time. The cheapest I've found for a new unit is $149 shipped from Vanns.com.

Nay! :D

IMHO, one of the best non-expensive CD players I've recently auditioned to is the new Onkyo DX-7555 (it is not a changer, BTW).

Wait and save more money ;)

I'm pretty happy with this CD changer. The sound quality is great but mine occasionally won't read discs (and that problem is always temporary). Agree with others who said that it's very slow to choose tracks for random play, which is kind of annoying. I've looked around at other changers but there aren't a lot of options out there. Sony, Harman Kardon, Denon, and Marantz are other options, though the h/ks get lousy reviews and I've seen negative words about the Marantz as well. It seems like quality control is pretty bad with CD changers in general.

If the OP is looking for a changer, I'd stay away from the HK 8385Fl. It is the worst CD changer I've owned :(

Overall I would say if you're looking for sound quality thru analog and a heavy solid built unit, get the Onkyo. If you need speed between changing discs or using the shuffle mode, the Sony is better.

I've still got a 12 year old inexpensive Sony in the living room and when we have parties we use the disc exchange feature. Its very quick in that function. Sound quality thru analog isn't quite as good as the Onkyo though.

Just got my refurb from accessories4less and I really like it!! I have it hook up to my A/V via digital coax. One thing though, the CD's I have made for (mp3 stuff) I can't get to display the title, author etc. Anyone know how to get that to work on this unit?

Any suggestions?

Nay! :D

IMHO, one of the best non-expensive CD players I've recently auditioned to is the new Onkyo DX-7555 (it is not a changer, BTW).

Wait and save more money ;)
Define non-expensive. I thought that the 7555 was way up in the $800-$1000 range, which is insane money for a CDP!.

OK. Fair enough.

As usual, everything is relative.

Cheap players: 0-600 dollars
Non-expensive players: 600-2000 dollars
Expensive players: 2000-5000 dollars
Insanely expensive: 5000 and up

For instance The Onkyo CD-7555 is a very cheap player if compared to the Wadia 861, which costs more than 9,000 dollars :eek:

OK. Fair enough.

As usual, everything is relative.

Cheap players: 0-600 dollars
Non-expensive players: 600-2000 dollars
Expensive players: 2000-5000 dollars
Insanely expensive: 5000 and up

For instance The Onkyo CD-7555 is a very cheap player if compared to the Wadia 861, which costs more than 9,000 dollars :eek:
You are right, our definitions are quite different. I would consider any CDP over $300 to be very expensive. There has never been, and never will be, any CDP worth $1000 or more.

Define non-expensive. I thought that the 7555 was way up in the $800-$1000 range, which is insane money for a CDP!.The Onkyo DX-7555 retails for $599 and worth every penney.

You are right, our definitions are quite different. I would consider any CDP over $300 to be very expensive. There has never been, and never will be, any CDP worth $1000 or more.

That's a bold statement. There may not be a CDP worth $1000 to YOU, but that's a different story.

Scott

Considering the absolutely exquisite sound quality of my <$200 CD player, I am hard put to believe in the existence of a player worth even 2 or 3 times as much. Spending upwards of 5 times as much strikes me as flushing money away, since the limits of human hearing will have been passed long before that level is reached.

There has never been, and never will be, any CDP worth $1000 or more.


Is it fair to assume you thought the Yugo was a fine automobile ??? !!

Is it fair to assume you thought the Yugo was a fine automobile ??? !!
No, and that is not a relevant analogy. The performance/price ratio of electronics (especially CD players) has grown at such an accelerated pace that today's budget CDPs are the equivalent of getting Ferrari performance at a Yugo price. In fact, the curve of diminishing returns has already become nearly flat by the time one reaches the level of a $30 Discman.

Considering the absolutely exquisite sound quality of my <$200 CD player, I am hard put to believe in the existence of a player worth even 2 or 3 times as much. Spending upwards of 5 times as much strikes me as flushing money away, since the limits of human hearing will have been passed long before that level is reached.

Sigh....

Anyway, back to the OP...

For $170, the Onkyo is a fine choice.

Enjoy.

Scott

The Onkyo DX-7555 retails for $599 and worth every penney.

Almost ordered one of these but went with the Marantz SA-8001 for $640. May try to demo the DX-7555 at some point to compare the two.

No, and that is not a relevant analogy. The performance/price ratio of electronics (especially CD players) has grown at such an accelerated pace that today's budget CDPs are the equivalent of getting Ferrari performance at a Yugo price. In fact, the curve of diminishing returns has already become nearly flat by the time one reaches the level of a $30 Discman.

Bold statements!

It is true some ABX tests have shown no differences when a Discman was compared to a more expensive CD player. This is the case of the Sony Discman E-775 compared to the Sony SACD XA300ES (only 50% of the subjects could identify the XA300ES).

Conversely, there are reports that showed that 90% of the people found differences between the same Discman and the XA300ES paired up to an Audionote DAC 3 (the XA300ES was used as transport).

The tests were serious ABX tests using the ABX switch Lancis II.

This is the link http://www.matrixhifi.com/contenedor_molingordo3_pruebas.htm

Unfortunately the site is in spanish language. :o

Furthermore, some other ABX test reports tend to show differences between different CD players of very different prices, while most of the tests show no differences if the DACs and/or players are similarly priced or both cost more than 500 dollars.

From what I've read so far, no differences were noticed particularly when the equipments in comparison cost more than 1000 dollars.

In short: for the time being, the law of diminishing returns is perfectly applicable from a price level much higher than the 30 bucks discman level ;)

Almost ordered one of these but went with the Marantz SA-8001 for $640. May try to demo the DX-7555 at some point to compare the two.The Onkyo is CD only where the Marantz is SACD as well. I had a Marantz SA8260 and the Onkyo is better in redbook IMO.

The Onkyo is CD only where the Marantz is SACD as well. I had a Marantz SA8260 and the Onkyo is better in redbook IMO.

The SA-8001 is a different animal than the SA8260...improved transport and digital circuitry. FWIW...my local dealer who carries the Music Hall 25.2 says the Marantz is a nice upgrade over the Music Hall.