CD player vs. PS3

Re: CD player vs. PS3

You'll just need to try it, because we can't say how much improved it will sound to you.
No. The newer receivers will upconvert from composite to HDMI, but they don't down convert from HDMI to composite. They don't even down convert from HDMI to component.

Re: CD player vs. PS3

Like Ed implied, there are too many variables to say, but it'd probably help to know which receiver you actually have too. If you really want the best CD playback for a given budget, it may also be the case that analog out from a quality standalone player will do better than the PS3's analog out or your receiver's DAC (using optical/coax connection).

Also, I'm not sure which PS3 you have (and whether it can do SACD), but if you're considering a standalone player, you should probably also consider whether you want something that plays SACD (and/or DVD-A) too.

Finally, you may also want to consider how much workload you want to place on the PS3 for CD playback (vs everything else). These things are not built to last forever and will probably wear out faster if you use it for everything under the sun. In my case, I plan to go back to using my couple-yo Denon for most DVD playback along w/ all CD/SACD playback, but I do have 3 kids who log in considerable time w/ their collection of DVDs (and BDs). In the past, my 2 older kids did wear out a couple Toshiba DVD players quickly enough (like in 2-3 years) during their preschool years.


Not sure exactly what you mean. But you can always run the analog a/v out from PS3 to TV and the HDMI out from PS3 to receiver just for the audio. If you want the receiver to do all the switching, you can probably also send that analog video out to the receiver alongside the HDMI out and switch there (unless your receiver does not allow that).

_Man_

Re: CD player vs. PS3

Patrick: to expand on Man-Fai's post, the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in the Sony CD player might be of higher quality than the PS3's, so CDs would sound better.

But.....if the DAC in the Onkyo receiver is of higher quality than either Sony machine, than a digital connection would yield the better sound.

On the extreme end of the spectrum, if you used this beautiful wood-trimmed Yamaha CD-S2000 sacd/CD player - yours for only $1500 - than definitely use the Yamaha's analog output!

But wait, there's more! If the Onkyo converts the signals of all of its analog inputs to digital form, a common occurance with HT receivers (makes it easier to manipulate and route the signal through an HT receiver's maze of circuits) than part or all of a high quality external DAC's improvements could be negated. Could be, because good DACs aren't that expensive anymore so any degradation by the Onkyo very probably is inaudible. Actually, any change in the sound would really come from the sound that Onkyo engineers chose for the circuitry used in the receiver (I do believe that while subtle, the sound of different receivers can vary - there are sooooooo many different circuit designs that handle music signals differently, in turn changing that signal ever so slightly).

To get around this, many HT receiver manufacturers have been including a feature that when activated creates a 100% analog path for certain (or all) analog inputs. The only possible disadvantage to them for some people is that they usually deactivate EQ/calibration systems, bass/treble controls, simulated surround systems or anything else relying on digital technology. Fluorescent front-panel displays are also usually shut off since those can create high-frequency signals that can leak into delicate analog circuitry.

To echo what the other guys said, try the various connection methods and see which one sounds best to you.

************************************************
BTW, another nice little feature most dvd players don't have: if you have one of those CDs that have a hidden track placed before track #1 - for example, 311's Transistor album - at least with my CD players, you can use the "<<" scan button to scan backwards from track #1 and "rewind" to the beginning of that hidden track.


* the title usually includes the word "pure" or "direct"

Re: CD player vs. PS3

Aye. There's good likelihood that the Onkyo receiver will do a A-D-A conversion for its stereo analog input, but it might leave the 5.1 analog input relatively untouched, assuming it actually has 5.1 analog input -- that's the case w/ the 805, IIRC. Also, yeah, the power amp section (as well as your speakers and/or overall setup and room acoustics) could be too low fidelity for subtle diffs to matter too.

Given all the variables involved, including your own ability to discern/appreciate subtle diffs, it's really difficult to know how much, if any, real difference the various choices would make for you. That's largely why it always boils down to what actually "sounds best to you" (and what actually makes you happy enough).

_Man_