Cheap CD or DVD ??

Having started with a cheap Panasonic portable and used it satisfactorily for years, then used, at various times, an inexpensive Denon (priced around the point you mention, no actually cheaper than that...) and a CDS and a 3.5 I can assure you that many players in that price range can provide musical satisfaction. I suggest he look at the "reputable" brands such as Denon, Sony, Marantz, and so forth. Doesn't need to be anything too exotic--they all will play music.

And, though you haven't asked for advice on this point, I'll mention it all the same--and that is that your attitude about his shopping/owning/listening experience will greatly shape his satisfaction and pleasure he receives from his purchase. Make it easy for him to enjoy his new cd player, no matter how humble it may be! The fact that he already owns seperates sets him apart from the vast majority of human beings I know. Share his excitement, joy, pleasure and help to enrich his experience and I hope you won't taint this by having him audition something he will not be able to afford. Life is too short to spend feeling frustrated and disatisfied about this kind of thing.

Hope you don't take my counsel the wrong way. Just mean to say that really, this should be *fun* experience for him-perhaps the first purchase of this type that he (or anyone in his family in the last ten years) has made. Help it be great!

Respectfully, in the full knowledge I can tend to sound preachy...

Markus
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There are loads of good quality cheep cd players out there. There are also loads of good quality Dvd players if our son wants to play DVD's as well as CD's.

Take a trip to one of your local electrical shops and they will be full of them. However if you want something a little better then try somewhere like Richer sounds where you can get an older model for next to nothing a Sony or Technic's for under sixty quid!! If you want some thing a little bit better than that there's a Marantz CD6000 at half price!! £150.

These models may not be the leading edge of hi fi but it will give your son a taste of what is to come!


Regards

NB

Don

At that price He would get a far better deal buying second hand.......thousands of bargins to be had out there.

Regards

Mick

Many thanks for your replies.

I think he's looking for something new, because at that price he won't get into the 'Big League' and he's concerned about possible wear and tear; and possibly abuse/misuse of the mechanical parts.

He (quite rightly) doesn't want to audition at the local dealers then go and buy at a discount at Richer Sounds.

He did mention the Marantz CD6000 as having been recommended by friends so if Richer Sounds are turning them out at £150 that might be his best bet, even if it means buying a pig in a poke.

I have offered to let him borrow an old (5 years) Technics CD player (circa £150 when new) so that he can establish a 'bench-mark' from which to judge other players, assuming he decides to audition a couple at the local dealer. I have suggested he put at least a Denon on his list.

Further suggestions most welcom.

Cheers

Don

PS Mick, do you still have those two lengths of black Nac4.....just in case he realises the importance of cables and stands etc.....

Yes they are here safe and sound.

If you need them just shout.

I have not been down the M4 for ages.

Regards

Mick

If he gets a DVD player he would be able to play MP3 files (given the right model). This may be a consideration fro him???. Sound quality would not be as good though