CD Players Deals & Specials at Crutchfield.ca (2024)

FAQs

Why buy a high end CD player? ›

More expensive CD players are also usually equipped not only with more connections, but also with greater precision in driving any external Audio DACs. They also have sophisticated containment and cancellation systems for jitter phenomena and can also be equipped with balanced XLR outputs.

DVD players are capable of playing both DVDs and audio CDs. (When an audio CD is inserted in a DVD it simply plays through your television speakers.) CD players, however, are not capable of playing DVDs or the audio contained within them.

It may not be as popular or an abundant category in recent years, but many hi-fi brands are still manufacturing CD players with regularity for audiophiles and those of us who never managed to let go of our CD (and SACD) collections.

There is no best bitrate, only the right bitrate.

Audio CD bitrate is always 1,411 kilobits per second (Kbps). The MP3 format can range from around 96 to 320Kbps, and streaming services like Spotify range from around 96 to 160Kbps.

In terms of build quality, serviceability, service life and 'vintage goodness', older CD players are almost always better and nicer to own than new ones. Even in terms of sound quality, older players often sound superb, sometimes better than expensive new ones.

According to google, CD players last 5 to 10 years. The most common reason for failure is the laser/laser mechanism wears out.

The Rise of MP3 Players and Streaming Services

The rise of digital downloads and streaming services is mostly to blame, with digital downloads rising steadily since 2001. Streaming services (such as Spotify) have now taken over the top spot — outselling digital downloads and CDs in 2016, and they continue to grow.

If you're wondering “are CDs worth anything”, you should know there's a lot of value in those old CDs, especially if you're an audiophile. These days, some streaming services are losing their luster – with some famous artists like Neil Young taking down entire catalogs.

So, why are CD players better than DVD players for playing CDs? Briefly: DVD and Blu-ray players are generally not built with audio in mind. They are made almost entirely of plastic, built to last a few years only and use the cheapest, lowest-grade parts.

In Windows Media Player, you can play audio CDs, data CDs, and data DVDs that contain music or video files (also known as media CDs). You can also play video CDs (VCDs), which are similar to DVDs, although the video quality isn't as high.

How do I choose a CD player? ›

Choose a CD player based on the audio file formats you'll want to play, the equipment you already own, and the budget you have. Look at the spec sheet of each CD player you're entertaining to see if there are features you know you would never use.

Once the most widely consumed physical music artifact, CDs have returned to being something special, cherished and celebrated amongst the most passionate music fans. "The one thing they offered was the ability to play music without a need for the internet," says Buckshot.

The end of the CD is a bit like the end of the world: People keep predicting it, but it has yet to happen. Of course, more and more people are turning to audio formats like MP3s that have no physical store medium. This allows people to compile vast music libraries on their computer hard drives or USB storage devices.

How to choose a CD player? Choose a CD player based on the audio file formats you'll want to play, the equipment you already own, and the budget you have. Look at the spec sheet of each CD player you're entertaining to see if there are features you know you would never use.

There are so many elements inside a CD player contributing to the sound that no two CD players will ever sound the same, except perhaps two of the same model. When you play a CD, what you hear is the sum of many complex electronic and mechanical elements working together.