Can A $20 Blu-ray Player Outperform A $500 Cd Player? Find Out With These Mods!

[@apislapis]

I ain't throwing out any of my heritage formats (CD/MD/DVD/Cassette/MP3/Vinyl/Shellac 78s) just because some sales person tells me they're out of date or old hat and if anyone has any sense nor will they. Always love this sort of thing and if this helps young people starting out to show an interest in CD that's fabulous. They will learn that as they age the market will sell them perfectly good stuff then the market will tell them that their perfectly good stuff no longer is. Ignore them. Enjoy your music in whatever fomat and thank you Matt for bringing us enjoyment at an affordable price. 5 star liked.

[@HaakonOdinsson]

Agree 10% with you. We are on the same page! Im nearly 61 and I’ve always kept my physical music, I just keep adding to it, lol, that won’t change. I don’t care how good sounding non-physical media is, it can get deleted etc whether by accident or design…

[@DonnieMulligan]

When Skynet takes over, humans can still rock out with hard media.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Haha exactly!

[@tjeerdkruidhof5808]

Love this logic ❤

[@mikecampbell5856]

LOL!

[@gerardmcmillan8591]

😂😂😂 Still my cassettes!

[@damayor62]

Outstanding as always Matt. I'm using a few cheap Sony Blu-Ray players as transports into a variety of DACs and they sound great. Thank you for the tip on the small display for those players! I was surprised by how many of my friends who have vintage gear don't utilize the DAC set up you showed. A couple of my players feed into vintage Adcom systems and they sound amazing. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Adding the $40 screen is a great idea!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Yeah, adds a little more functionality without going all in on a tv.

[@jimfarrell4635]

I agree. Great idea. I might source one for my Oppo for navigating SACD, DVD Audio and Bluray audio. I do have spare screens but they are big and clunky.

[@SergioGarcia-jg3yy]

I use to buy Sony cd players used. For me they're great because of the displays, features (program time accumulation, auto pause, quick reading and quick search, information about time,...). Some have decent dacs inside but is common to have digital outputs also. The downside of them all is they're old and lenses, buttons and displays can fail anytime soon. I'm listening to a cd over a Sony dvd player and a SMSL SU1 dac right now and it sounds amazing.

[@patrickgeorge141]

I started back listening to vintage Kenwood recievers. On the cd route I have a few Sony ES model cd players I use as transports. Moved on to an Onkyo DX-C390 6 disc player. I have the Integra CDC 3.4 as well and would suggest it over the Onkyo even though the are owned by the same company. The Integra is $400 versus the Onkyo at $350 yet the Onky has a 2 year warranty and the Integra has a 5 year warranty. Well worth the extra 50 bucks to me. Good video, keep em coming!

[@MrSlipstreem]

Even the more sensibly priced Denon AVRs have very good DACs in them nowadays. I'm using a £20 secondhand LG BP250 Blu-ray player connected via HDMI to a Denon AVR-X1600H and CDs sounds spectacularly good with this setup.

[@Peter-gc4pm]

I have Pioneer PD S 707 as a CD transport. I was really surprised when it started playing music after a few seconds. I really appreciate that quick access to music.

[@kenlyon8285]

Hi Matt, How timely. On a lark, I recently thought I'd see just how dirtbag I could go to build up a genuinely satisfying CD based system. I bought an SMSL DA1 amp, an SU1 dac and a no-name Chinese DVD player w/ a tiny display (Gokuid), all purchased new off Amazon and am currently awaiting arrival of a used pair of Wharfedale Diamond 6 off eBay. My total including interconnects and cables for well under. US$250 I really think it'll be pretty decent, esp in a smaller room.If nothing else , the tiny setup will be as cute as a puppy.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Have fun, it should do well in my opinion.

[@FunFiEmpire]

I agree the small screen is brilliant. Another great video. A first - you're the only audiophile that recommends steel toe boots for listening safety.

[@JonMahnke]

I have the audiolab and when I’ve compared it to cheaper dvd players the difference has been clear with my Schiit Bufrost DAC. The soundstage in particular is much wider.

[@TriAmpMyFi]

The Bufrost can't give a wide soundstage to Mono recordings though.

[@farhanryan2895]

I upgraded from a Pioneer Elite BDP-52FD blu-ray player that I was using as a transport to a Primare CD15 Prisma that I’m using as a transport. The difference in the sound quality upgrade was so shocking my friends and I were speechless listening to the differences. Both were/are being run into a Technics SU-G700M2 integrated amplifier.

[@Pepo-1969]

That's the way I listen to my cds that aren't available on Tidal, but my Blu-ray player has all the control buttons so no need for a screen, dac will be be the NODE or a dacmagic. Great video!

[@sabrowenie]

On my two systems, still have an early Sony DVD deck with HDMI out and a Cambridge. Optical outs are hooked to a Node or older Node2i. The Sony will play SACD’s but only outputs the SACD on the RCA outs (copy protection). I’ve probably got a couple hundred discs gathering dust along side the vinyl. Basically there for decoration. The slight drop in sq on Tidal is not worth me getting out of my chair. BTW the bones of the systems are restored Yamaha/Heresy 1 and Arcam/AR2 Ax systems. I recapped them as needed then had them too them to a shop to check my work then brought to spec since I don’t have all the gear needed.

[@bikeman7982]

Hey Matt. I’m also using a Sony Blu-ray player to CDs. I prefer not having a display and track buttons or even the remote at hand. This makes it even more distraction free - kinda like vinyl. For the same reason, I configured my streaming amp’s screen to go blank after playback starts.

[@johnstump2433]

Another great video with good information, I like the idea of the little mini monitor since I have quite a few Pioneer Elite super audio/DVD audio DVD players that you need to get into the on screen menu to make your adjustments if you want to use them for audio only and the mini screen would be perfect for that. Thanks again Matt for another great video.. PS…I’ve been integrating the modern into my vintage system for years now and I’m glad to see you demonstrate the vintage owners so they won’t give up an excellent receiver from the past for some cheap modern AVR one that’s got those convenience that will never sound as good..

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hey John, there is just too much well made vintage gear to let go to waste. I try to save the pieces I can that are fair priced.

[@Downhuman74]

Those AudioLab players look like cheap Toshiba DVD players from the mid-2000's. BTW, CD transports are the biggest rip-offs in modern electronics and clearly prey on the flawed audiophile mentality. There are some upsides to having them but they unfortunately NEVER justify their ridiculous price tags.

[@TriAmpMyFi]

Except they all wear-out, so people buy new ones.

[@donjaun540]

I still have my collection of CD's I started since the 80's. When CD's started. I love and listen to them when I want to hear music. I also have several top of the line Alpine car audio decks and multiple CD changers for my cars. I love the format. 👍😎👏

[@scottlowell493]

DAC is one thing... but opamps and caps used are often compromised. Opamps have vastly improved since the 80's and 90's. Better designs do NOT use electrolytic caps in the audio path.

[@d.r.martin6301]

I'm in the process of putting together a super cheap CD setup. I've never had a DAC, so I'm trying the SMSL PS100 to get my feet wet, and teaming it up with one of the original Sony Blu Rays, the BDP S350. The former is $30, the latter I picked up for $10. Should be fun.

[@ianwhitlock1920]

have 2 ps100s. insane value

[@jp93309]

Get the PS200. The new ESS chip is supposedly a nice upgrade.

[@driver8sk]

I run into quite a few late 90's/early aughts CD players when I'm thrifting. Many of this vintage have optical or digital coax out combined with an extremely readable VFD display. A personal favorite I still often see is the Technics SL-PD5 5 CD changer. It has an opti out, but even the onboard dac sounds pretty good to my ears.

[@WireHedd]

Sony bluray player, SMSL SU-1 and a WiiM mini on 10Gb ethernet connected to a vintage Harman Kardon stereo receiver and it sounds amazing. Good video, thanks.

[@dickdeveraux]

@@WireHedd my nightstand headphone stack is wiim mini, smsl su1 into schiit magni heretic. Cans are sivga sv021.

[@MattCoykendall1]

There ya go, it really can be that simple.

[@HaakonOdinsson]

Interesting! Can you do the same thing with an Xbox one?

[@WireHedd]

@@HaakonOdinsson yup

[@HaakonOdinsson]

@@WireHedd nice! Thanks. I’ll do this

[@4thewinir344]

Great video Matt! I still use my original Sony 5-disc CDP-C725 from 1992 that had an optical output. -I bought it new in HS and remember for years after had absolutely no idea what “Optical” jack on the back was for. I think I thought you could ‘optically’ see the music on your TV with a special cable…anyway, I used the RCA and just ignored it. FF 30 years and I laugh at my ignorance as I ONLY use the SPDIF and put my nose up to the built-in DAC…

[@mikejames-drummerreginacan1386]

Great video, thanks .....I use a Sony DVD player for CD's. I don't miss the missing display at all. I play my CD's start to finish like a vinyl record.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I like that.

[@DarkJeffau]

The screen idea is a good one. I have a Sony Blu ray that shows nothing.

[@bikeman7982]

Actually, I find the lack of a display beneficial. Less distracting and less temptation to skip tracks using the remote. I have my streamers screen configured to go turn off in 60 seconds after starting playback for the same reason.

[@ianwhitlock1920]

Sony blu-ray may well play sacd too. I use with SU-1 and 48V Fosi amp and elacs - sounds splendid. cost a few hundred £

[@Downhuman74]

I have to laugh at the people in this comments section saying they hear a massive difference in quality between a standard blu-ray player and an expensive transport. No you don't - unless you were using the DAC on the cheaper blu-ray player going out through the analog connection. A digital bitstream is a digital bitstream no matter the source and it should be handled identically. The transport doesn't change the soundstage. It doesn't change the volume. It doesn't change tone. It just transfers the digital 1 and 0's to whatever DAC you happen to have your amp and speakers connected to. And that's it - it will either do this job or it won't -- there are no gradients to how well it does it.

[@mrb0775]

Downhuman74, you are absolutely right!!

[@mrb0775]

I've used a Sony DVD player (that cost $30 in 2013) during the last 10 years as a great sounding audio source to play discs from a large CD collection. Since my thinking is QUITE similar to yours, Matt, as the Coax Digital output of the Sony player feeds its signal into the Coax Digital input of a modest to medium priced Denon AVR ($650.00), resulting in shockingly good audio quality whether playing Dark Side of the Moon or excellent orchestral music CDs like Copland: The Music of America, a recording of the famed, late, orchestra conductor: Erich Kunzel, leading the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in performing Aaron Copland's best known works, creating a terrific sounding digital recording which won a Grammy for Best Audio Quality in the Classical Music Category. BTW, to see the disc selections being played, with each track's time shown, I have a cable feeding the DVD player's Analog video signal to a 32" Samsung LCD that's on the floor, just to the right of our modest basement theater's 77" Sony OLED. So it's easy to make CD track selections, & know the time left on a disc. Folks guess our audio system cost 5 times what it cost me, if the $4,000 for the Master Series OLED isn't in an estimate!

[@ColtLuger]

There's plenty of cheap DVD players with track displays available you could use as a transport and forgo the screen. You could also use HDMI if your DAC supports it.

[@lucabattanta9246]

Nice video, i own those two devices, I confirm your impression . For the Sony there are “luxury “ versions with a display and other features like analog outputs and optical out . The versions are 1000es and 1100es .The 1000es has an analog output stage but the transport mechanics is the same of our Sony player (even the several firmware bugs I think ) . On the other side, if you don’t need an integrated digital to analog converter you can buy the Sony 800m2 that has the same functionalities and it is cheaper. If you want a huge improvement on the transport itself, you should spend a lot of money to have an improvement in the quality of the transport . For example, in an expensive transport you will find several digital outputs like i2s and aes ebu, good transformers, discrete components and a huge attention to reduce jitter. Clearly you will need an high quality dac to appreciate the over mentioned high quality transport. Back to the Sony If you use the Sony 800m2 for play sacd it is clearly possible because the Sony can transfers via hdmi to a dac the dsd steam but there is a huge “but”… you need or a dac with hdmi that supports dsd input (very costly and rare ) or you need a special converter from hdmi output to i2s (more frequent and cheaper ) input of the dac. There is no way instead to pass a dsd signal through coax. In this way you can play also sacd with its dsd format. Hope can helps.

[@tjeerdkruidhof5808]

Hello Mike Nice review but this has been covered many times. I am so happy you told people that the digital signal should sound the same on the dac because it does 😂 For me, i take the route of ripping bought cds to lossless at thrift shops using my cheap external dvd burner and using Plex on my nas to stream the music over my 10 euro Apple TV with optical out to my dac (smsl m8) (yes I do own an iPhone) but it just goes to show how cheap and good thinks can be! Love your channel!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Thanks for the info! Never really been into ripping but have thought more about it lately.

[@tjeerdkruidhof5808]

@@MattCoykendall1 it’s so easy and makes buying a transport or dvd player with optical out (basically a transport) not needed. I like the comfort of casting to my Apple TV as a streamer but a cheap wiim mini would probably be better because it can handle different bitrates for like SACDs but I have not needed it yet. 😄

[@hipidipi20157max]

A 500 dollar cd player is twice the cost of my entire system. It would be crazy to spend that. I still have my cd collection but find it more practical to play my itunes from my basic ipad or some times flac files downloaded from the web from my Oppo phone. Did the test and sound better than many of the CDs fom my old Sony discman.

[@wignallyt]

Interesting video - thumbs up & thank you!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Thanks for stopping by

[@50slump]

Good find on the Mini Screen.

[@johnpajestka5022]

Try the DSEE HX upscaling feature in the audio settings on the Sony. It will upscale and send out at 96khz if you want to send it out upscaled a lil' to DAC. It will turn SACDs into PCM so any DAC will play them as well. Great Blu-Ray player as well. I have a few streaming services but I really do love collecting physical movies.

[@mikecampbell5856]

I'm a simple Hi Fi guy. I am using 49 dollar Sony Blu Ray players in two of my systems with coax outputs and Schitt Modi DACs and I think they sound great. I love this concept Matt!

[@chebrubin]

Seriously you need a dejitter device to re rock the bass bottom end into a nice DAC or processor.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Simple , sounds good and budget friendly

[@apislapis]

Glad to hear you're getting so much pleasure out of your affordable gear, long may it continue. Cool & love your supportive comment Mike.

[@EARLandPEARL-c3i]

SMSL Su1 would have made the Sony sound even better

[@Yakena1]

Can you explain as I am on the fence between them. Thks

[@erikreynolds2534]

Yes, why the PS200 over the SU-1?

[@dmichaelelkins1]

Funnily enough my current setup has that Sony blu-ray player sitting atop that same audiolab CD transport. Of course my CD transport is plugged into my Eversolo DAC-Z8.

[@dipanjanbiswas6580]

The small screen is a brilliant idea!

[@MattCoykendall1]

The price was right and it actually worked perfectly, even goes into a sleep mode.

[@warrenbrown2403]

I’ve been using the Sony upb x 800 as a cd transport since my Cyrus cd player went faulty, it was connected via the coax to a dac magic 100, but I’ve just recently bought a WiiM amp so I’m getting the sound through the hdmi earc from my Samsung 4K tv to the WiiM and it sounds great, I wouldn’t say it was cheap and plastic when you look at the build underneath, it’s got a well designed metal chassis and I can’t even hear it when it’s running.

[@yellow_noise3]

The problem whit streaming services is their price. It is too expensive if you dont spend entire day listening. CD is more affordable and still in good setup- better sounding

[@trekkis]

In my country they are so cheap that basically they are as for free.

[@11RESERVERED]

I never understand this argument. Even it streaming was 20$ a month, there's no way youre getting more than 4 CDs unless you get them exremely cheap used. And no recommendations, and no higher resolution.

[@patrickgeorge141]

​@@11RESERVEREDI used to stream and now am 100% cd's. I own the media and just prefer it.

[@trekkis]

There is no sense to be 100% of anything. All methods are mutually complementary.

[@jimfarrell4635]

I am a big fan of using DVD or Bluray players as transports though I also think an excellent redbook only cd transport can't be beaten for true high fidelity in an otherwise revealing system. I use a Jay's Audio Cd2 mk 3 into a Denafrips Terminator Plus Dac and the results are excellent. However I also use an Oppo Bdp 83 with a box which strips the digital audio from HDMI and let's me play SACD, Bluray Audio and DVD Audio through my Denafrips. And in another system I have a lovely Denon DVD-2900. This was a flagship player, costing over £1000 in 2003, but can be had now for less than £100. It excels as a transport, but also has its own excellent DACs which still sound great today. So I would perhaps suggest stretching the budget a bit and getting a high end player from the early noughties. It won't be much more expensive, build quality will be outstanding, and I believe it will sound better and you may not need that external DAC.

[@Alamo-cz5xc]

I like this guy’s videos but for those with good ears, they absolutely do not sound the same. I tried this route, almost exactly except I hooked a Sony UX700 to my TV. The performance was just OK. This actually led me to buy an Audiolab transport and it was a good choice. BTW, the DAC I was using was a Denafrips Enyo.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hey Alamo, certainly some systems can be more resolving depending on the equipment pairings, I don’t disagree at all. I only ask to keep in mind the person who is likely putting this system together looking for budget deals might not be looking for pinnacle resolution, they just want to do the best they can without a crazy budget. Thanks for the comment!

[@DonnieMulligan]

Get a friend to help you set up a A/B test. Differentiating audible differences between DAC's is extremely difficult. The results might surprise you.

[@erikreynolds2534]

Great Video! To clarify, you hook the HDMI to the screen and optical or coaxial to the DAC? Both outputs work simultaneously? Also, why the PS200 of the SMSL SU-1?

[@MattCoykendall1]

Correct, HDMI to the screen, optical or coax to the DAC. I used the PS200 simply because I had it in for review, both would be great options.

[@JoseGarcia-yu9nd]

That unit looks like the sony ubp-x800m2 blu ray. This was a $330 unit and still available for around $220 new.

[@jukingeo]

Buying a used commercial DVD player that has a display will negate some of the pros on the hi-end CD player. This is what I did. However, As a bonus, my commercial Pioneer DVD player just happens to have a really good DAC inside and cheaper DACs, such as the SMSL SU-1, sound inferior to it. I think I might have to go to the next level with a DAC, such as a Geshelli Labs J2 or a Denafrips Ares DAC.

[@SeanPowell-p4v]

Yes, the key is the DAC! A 20 dollar blu-ray player on its own will sound like CRAP for music because the dac chip probably cost 25 cents! I still swear by my old , trusty EAD 2000 -T cd transport for playing music. Maybe it’s in my head, but I like the way music sounds on it as opposed to music played on my Panasonic bdp-820. I route them both through a Marantz Cinema 50 for the digital to analog conversion.

[@Ss-kn6zc]

That blu ray player surely doesn't cost 20$ because it is the top range sony blu ray player and costs 200 $

[@MattCoykendall1]

I actually just missed on another one for 30, they do go fast when they are priced like this.

[@Evolved_ue7]

Sony, Panasonic, some Toshiba are good buys, some are sacd through RCA only, only one toshiba ever passed that format through coax and optical.. Denon 1600 cd player is a superb transport but average through RCA . I had the audiolab great transport but the Denon is another step up . But that's my price cap .

[@Yakena1]

Just bought a used Sony S6700 cheap to play not only my CDs but SACDs as well!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Good point! I didn’t cover the SACD use.

[@Openeyesopenheart42]

Thanks Matt, I might do this with an old pioneer dvd audio/sacd unit that’s gathering dust, I still have a pile of dvd audios and sacd’s I haven’t listened to in years.

[@MattCoykendall1]

You really should give it a try, it’s been fun.

[@gregbarber6105]

I love cds cheap sound good and don’t rely on the internet

[@jp93309]

You don’t need a mini tv to display track info if you get an older dvd combo player that has a display on the front panel. There are plenty of those available on local used markets for practically free.

[@jp93309]

Edit: look for a dvd combo unit that also plays sacd. It will have a superior dac to standard cd players because sacd demands higher fidelity. I paid $6 at goodwill for a Pioneer Elite player.

[@MattCoykendall1]

A good tip as well

[@johnstump2433]

Matt, I was curious if you had done a comparison between the PS200 (ESS) to the SU-1 (AKM)? I would be interested in your opinion between the two.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hey John, I haven’t actually had my hands on the SU1. It does seem to be a little more favored online but it’s hard to say on the accuracy of these statements.

[@johnstump2433]

@@MattCoykendall1 Yep, that’s one of the reasons why I wanted your input on it, I trust your opinion more than some of the other reviewers I watch.

[@Sinister_Collections]

Is it at all possible to use this without a screen?

[@MattCoykendall1]

Yes it is, the disc in my example loads automatically, you just won’t know the track. The other option is to have it plugged into your tv if it’s near by.

[@Sinister_Collections]

@@MattCoykendall1 thanks for replying

[@carminedesanto6746]

I’m perfectly happy with my Audiolab 6000cdt …feeding my Denafrips DAC 😎

[@MattCoykendall1]

Yeah, mine normally goes into my audiolab 9000a but it seems that one may never come back from repair at this point.

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@MattCoykendall1 Holy Smokes

[@kellygrant4964]

best story about breaking into a car and thinking they would care about CDs. Back in college days good friend of mine had an old 70s big boat of a car with 8 track. He couldn't look the doors. One day he discovered somebody entered his car. Not to steal but must have felt sorry for him and left a bunch of 8 tracks.

[@AlexanderG-mi7ip]

Thanks, this was helpful...

[@MattCoykendall1]

Glad to hear!

[@stevehumm1678]

Great vid

[@MattCoykendall1]

Thanks Steve!

[@tmdillon1969]

I paired a $50 Blu-ray player with an SMSL SU-1 and then ran it against my 1996 Marantz CD player that was $400 back in 96. No comparison. I don't know what DAC the Marantz is running but's no match for the modern DAC. Through watching some of the pros like Paul McGowan I've really come to the conclusion they were selling us expensive players with garbage DACs back in the day.

[@joelcarson4602]

CD audio came in the 1980s. By the early 1990s, records were dead, cassettes were dead and Mini Disc never took off. CD did this with basically 40 year old technology. The technolgy, even in dirt cheap items has only improved since then. Of course a laser reading device can get the bits off a disc for cheap these days, just like 40 years ago. Bits is bits.

[@rickbrookes9491]

The $20 BluRay player you’re using for this video is actually a modern Sony x800 UHD 4K Player that retails for about $250 bucks! If you really got it for $20 bucks, you got one hellova deal! Also, using a UHD BluRay player for just audio would be a shame.

[@MattCoykendall1]

It really was a good deal, but I actually saw a second one on Facebook marketplace for $30 in the last week as well. The deals are out there if a person catches it in time. As for UHD, my PS5 handles those duties.

[@KindaDogFood]

What exactly is the sony blue ray player model?

[@T3ZG3R3]

Looks like the Sony X800. If it's really that one, it's a steal for 20$

[@ianwhitlock1920]

charity/thrift shops turn up some great cd's for £ or a $ - yesterday I found a lovely Smokey Robinson 2009 recording which is marvellous. great days to buy cd's again

[@d.r.martin6301]

A golden age of cheap CDs. I never pay more than a buck or two for anything now.

[@brycebager4248]

Can’t I just use a laptop with a HDMI port

[@trekkis]

Sony does not have screen, but cheaper (20$ for brand new one from store, without any problem with reading even very old disks - even 30 years old) and better (also smaller, better build, and more practical) blu ray players have :) external screen is not needed :) Sony is not good example here, but overall idea is very good and worthy popularization :) Perfect dac to pair is also for example great Topping E30 II lite - 100$ :) In case of wiim as a dac, additional d/d converter to toslink is needed as wiim does not have coax in when most of blu rays have coax out. But this is not big problem, converters are also cheap and shouldnt degrade quality. Wiim as a dac is also powerful dsp with parametric EQ or even bass management (ultra model) and room correction. Used properly will absolute destroy many audiophiles equipment without proper room correction or bass management. Also, as a dac can be used some fpga or r2r ones, for example new fiio r2r. These also would totally destroy audiophile transports but with simple delta sigma chips.

[@rhorto01]

No one knows because we are still waiting for the cheap Blu Ray player to boot the CD.

[@thegrimyeaper]

I had that Blu-Ray player and it would skip like crazy. No thanks.

[@ryanlee6157]

Nice!

[@chebrubin]

A Sony UBP-X800M2 is a incredible transport. Plays SACD stereo and mutlichannel. No machine you can buy today. Add some isolation feet to the Sony and it feels amazing. I think you have it all wrong with the Audiolab vs Sony. Sony is clearly superior. Love the little USB screen.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I think the Sony is great in many ways as well. The screen really worked out better than I expected.

[@jimfarrell4635]

To be fair the X800 is much more expensive than the Sony Matt used, and is indeed an excellent player. Also you can't play SACD with an external DAC unless you have an HDMI DSD stripper box at around $100 and a DAC which does Dsd. I do love universal players like the Sony and still listen to SACD, Bluray audio and DVD Audio.

[@chebrubin]

@@jimfarrell4635 Please look at the machine in Matts video at 1:34 - 1:37 that is a UBP-X800M not sure if it is a UBP-X800M2.

[@jimfarrell4635]

​@@chebrubinJeez! You are right, of course. I just looked at the $20 price and presumed it couldn't be an X800. They still go for £250 new in the UK and £150 used. He got a fantastic bargain there. I doubt there are many floating round as cheap as that. They are a fantastic player and I am sure a great transport. I still prefer a redbook drive and laser assembly for playing cds though. Sorry for my confusion. Senior moment.

[@phillipmorris9847]

thank you

[@MattCoykendall1]

You're welcome

[@trevorbartram5473]

Used CD prices & mailing costs are both trending up compared to ten years ago. When buying an expensive CD player (or transport), after considering the things you mentioned, a most important factor is how long the player manufacturer will support replacement CD drives. My experience is the Sony BDP-S1700/3700/6700 Blu-ray players have superior CD defect (scratches, blemishes) performance in comparison with all the Blu-ray/DVD/CD players I had at hand. They are inexpensive new but have no display, so a Rasp PI HDMI display, like the one you showed, is needed. Hint: once the display etc is working, glue the display to the stand (using 5 min epoxy) & then glue the stand to a heavy ceramic non-slip drinks coaster to stop the display from moving around unnecessarily. Cheers!

[@drumingthumbs]

Awesome

[@apparaoapparao]

Of course….the Blueray player will also play Blueray movies

[@MattCoykendall1]

Haha true!

[@alanjipy55]

No reason for me to use a cd player.. For playing cd's sacd, dvd audio and blu ray.. I have a Pioneer LX-500 4k player, It has a good bulit in DAC, I Also have azur 851n, hifi streamer DAC which i use also with the Pioneer.

[@rjtkzg]

👌

[@tek00732882]

💯

[@nobodyimportant2294]

Hi 😊

[@nobodyimportant2294]

And yes, subscribing ✅

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hello! Welcome to the community.

[@johnbgood52]

Can a $20 Blu-ray player outperform a $500 CD player? No. Move along folks. Nothing to see here.

[@chrisirion9649]

$150? You can get a used DVD player with a LCD display built in for $20-$30 and a cheap DAC for $45-$55. That's half price; plus, you don't need a monitor.

[@donjaun540]

That's funny 🤣 I have that exact Sony 800 4k player. 😂 I bought it new and had it sitting for about six years. 😳🫨🤪