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Mid-priced CDPs: Old vs. new technology

I’ve been pretty much out of the digital loop for a while, content with my inexpensive, aging Sony CD player. Now I’m trying to catch up, so please excuse the massive ignorance I’m about to display.

In CD players under about $1,500, I see what seem to be older technologies competing with new ones. I’ve read about new DAC technologies with spiffy names like Black Fin (Cambridge) and Sabre (Oppo and Eastern Electric), and I wonder whether they represent a significant improvement over older technologies.

There are players like the Jolida JD 100, which I believe is nearly 10 years old (but still seems to sell quickly on Audiogon). The Rega Apollo, I believe, is a few years old, as is the Njoe Tjoeb and a few other popular players.

Would it be wrong to think of the older technologies (i.e., Jolida, etc.) as obsolete or tending toward it? Are the newer technologies superior or just the “flavors of the month” and/or marketing hype? Thanks for any thoughts you may have.
-Bob
hesson11
rwwear
2,692 posts
 
I would look at the Oppo BD-83 if you have any interest at all in playing SACD and DVDA as well as the new Hi Res Bluray discs and DVD. It's hard to beat for 499.00 or 899.00 for the SE model. An outboard DAC is always an option too.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
Which Sony do you have specifically?

Overall they've probably gotten better at that price point but I'm sure there are some older units that still perform well compared to newer ones.

You would have to compare and see.

My experience has been that each time I replaced an older CD player with a newer one in similar price range or less, performance generally improved, though personal tastes may matter more than the absolute sound quality in determining
what sounds better.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
"and I wonder whether they represent a significant improvement over older technologies." Of course, it all depends on how you define "improvement". My experience is that more modern players have more detail and clarity than older players. But older players are the equal as regards dynamics and quiet backgrounds, as it should be, power supply design being one of the more mature aspects of audio design. I also think that older players, like the Rega mentioned are, at least, the equal of newer players as regards tonality. In some ways it all mirrors the high end as a whole, some searching for ever increased clarity and some searching for greater tonality. Too bad we don't get both in the same package more often.
toetapfactor
77 posts
 
Why spend more then $60, including shipping? SonyStyle sells refurb's of the 595 changer from time to time. Best to get one and judge for your self. Hey, if you don't like it Sony will pick it up for free and give you all your money back. The 595 holds it own against $1500 players, I know as I have two high end players.

Thats one of the dumbest statement Ive read on this site.
tgrisham
1,179 posts
 
To get back to your questions, in my opinion, CD players have improved with the improvement in chips. Bear in mind that upsampling is not always done well. Some manufacturers prefer older chips. The tube output CDPs are in a separate class and I used to own the Jolida 100. Now I wish I still had it. As fewer CDPs are produced, we will have fewer to choose from and I think it will come down to either super crappy ones and elegant expensive ones. Many, like myself, have gone to separate DACs and some kind of transport-CDP/DVD/BR.
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