Trade Cambridge Audio 640C cd for Sony BD370?

[joshw]

My main system currently consists of a Sony 5200ES receiver with a cheap Samsung DVD player for DVD's and a Cambridge Audio 640C cd player for CD's.  I'm considering selling the Cambridge CD player and buying a Sony BD370 and then using this for both CD's and DVD's.  From what I've read it's excellent on DVD's & blu ray discs and is also very good on standard CD's.  Apparently it also has a very quick load time and so shouldn't drive me nuts when changing CD's.  A few questions:
Has anyone tried this player?  Is it any good with CD's?
Any idea of what I'd get for the Cambridge CD player?  I think I can pick up a BD370 for about R2k from FotoCats.

I probably spend more time listening to CD's than watching DVD's and so don't really want to compromise the CD performance, but it'd be nice to have one less item on the rack (more space for something else!) and a blu ray player is tempting...

[dotVIBE]

I believe someone sold their 640C on here for R1k a month or 2 ago.

[Raffs]

I've just got myself the BD370, it does all that you mention, and although it sounds good with CD'S it's not great , by comparison to a dedicated CD spinner. As far as BD playback goes it is very good given it's fighting class , if the powers that be (Mr.C ash) allow you to , i would definitley get the 370 and keep the Cambridge...............rather ditch the Samsung. BTW not sure of the units at Fotocats, but the units at the Sony store (eastgate) are DVD multiregion and come in at 2k. I'm comparing CD playback with my Marantz CD-52 I aquired from a forum member , which is an older player but still takes the cake 

[PAPPA3]

I suggest you consider this from AVSA:

PIONEER DV868 AUDIOPHILE DVD PLAYERPioneer DV868 high end DVD player. HDMI interface etc. Award winning DVD player, plays DVD audio. Incredible sound & picture.  Placed by Stephen | On: Sep 3rd |  082 799-8256 | Price R2 300 | Location Constantia, Cape Town | Respond to ad | Tell a friend

I'm going to pick up some things from him.  Take it before I do (please help me resist the temptation ).  I'll be glad to bring it back for you on Oct. 2nd.  It will give you good audio.  You've already answered your question, methinks.  If CD playback is important, don't do away with the CD player unless you can get a dvd player with good audio.  Some dvd players just sound cheap & tinny, with exaggerated highs and lows cos they're built for HT surround.

I'll take the CD player off your hands for 1k

[Hi-Phibian]

I'm comparing CD playback with my Marantz CD-52 I aquired from a forum member , which is an older player but still takes the cake 

Yeah, and digital audio has come so far they say....

[Hi-Phibian]

Pioneer DV868= NO blu ray.

[PAPPA3]

If I was in your shoes, I'd keep the Cambridge Cd player, and sell the cheap dvd player.  Be patient and you'll get a good 2nd hand blue ray player for less than 2k.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a blu-ray player that can equal the audio quality of the Cambridge for about R2000.  I would think that you'd need to fork out R3500 plus to get a blu-ray player that also has good audio quality.  Check the forum, and you'll see many people are holding onto their cd players, even if they're 10 years old. This is also why cd players are still in demand, i.e. being manufactured new.  The dvd/blu-ray machines can't compare to dedicated cd sound.  Their focus is on HT surround sound.  Once all those speakers get going, with the sub blasting all over the place, who's listening with a critical ear?  You get caught up with the visual effects, and your listening becomes less critical!

[KenMasters]

If you're currently bitstreaming the audio from your Cambridge to your Sony, then there shouldn't be any difference in audio quality between that and a BD or DVD player.

[Viagara]

I believe someone sold their 640C on here for R1k a month or 2 ago.

Which is a crazy price

Rather keep your CDP as I can't believe that a relatively cheap Blu-Ray player can equal a good entry-level CDP.

[placebo]

I will pay you R1500.00 for your CDP as a guy is trying to sell his 640C on the AVSA forum for R4000.00.Keep the CD player is my advice to you.

[naughty]

if you want a blu-ray player thats decent as a CD player look at the pioneer BDP 320 - it has a few features that make it decent as a CD player - in fact even my BDP 120 gets a bit closer to sounding as good as a dedicated standalone CD player but the BDP 320 has extra tech in it regarding 2 channel audio playback (PQLS for jitter free playback) - only drawback is that it wont play SACD or DVD audio - if you want those then you are looking at something like an Oppo BDP83

[KenMasters]

BDP 320 has extra tech in it regarding 2 channel audio playback (PQLS for jitter free playback)

The PQLS system only works in conjunction with a Pioneer reciever. It also doesn't pertain to a bitstreamed signal, only PCM. Sony's version is called HATS.

[naughty]

The PQLS system only works in conjunction with a Pioneer reciever. It also doesn't pertain to a bitstreamed signal, only PCM. Sony's version is called HATS.

oh okay - thanks for the correction Ken

[Hi-Phibian]

Pioneer Clock Link System I assume? Ie slave the  player to a master clock in the dac?

[KenMasters]

Pioneer Clock Link System I assume? Ie slave the  player to a master clock in the dac?

Yip, but it's just Pioneer's name for ARC (Audio Rate Control, not Audio Return Channel) which is a standard part of the HDMI 1.3 spec.