Can't say I have any specific knowledge there, but I think it's safe to assume that if somebody is wondering about a machine, chances are it *does* decode PE. Hence, this thread should really be "List of CD players that can't decode pre-emphasis".
I agree. However, I only know of one player I'm 100% sure it can't decode pre-emphasis. Thanks everybody for your help
Thanks for your replies CD/Universal players Arcam Arcam Alpha 5 Cambridge Audio Cambridge DVD99 Cambridge Azur 840C Cyrus Cyrus CD6S Denon Denon DCD-695 Harman Kardon Harman Kardon HD7300 Harman Kardon HD7600 JVC JVC XL-V550 Marantz Marantz CD5001 Mitsubishi Mitsubishi DP-101 Naim Naim CD-5i Naim CD555 Onkyo Onkyo C7030 Onkyo C-S5VL (SACD/CD) Pioneer Pioneer DV-656A Rega Rega Apollo Rotel Rotel RCD-1072 Sony Sony SCD-X501 (SACD/CD) DACs Benchmark DAC 1 Pre Cambridge Dacmagic 2 Mk.II Feel free to bump the thread adding your own findings, please There must be more players that can't decode pre-emphasis. Anyone? Does any one own the Primare CD21? Can it decode pre-emphasis? Thanks
My Marantz SA KI Pearl (not the light version) has it. My old Marantz 63 KI had it too. As far as I am aware all Marantz players have it.
Thanks for your replies CD/Universal players Arcam Arcam Alpha 5 Cambridge Audio Cambridge DVD99 Cambridge Azur 840C Cyrus Cyrus CD6S Denon Denon DCD-695 Harman Kardon Harman Kardon HD7300 Harman Kardon HD7600 JVC JVC XL-V550 Marantz Marantz CD5001 Marantz SA KI Pearl Marantz 63 KI Mitsubishi Mitsubishi DP-101 Naim Naim CD-5i Naim CD555 Onkyo Onkyo C7030 Onkyo C-S5VL (SACD/CD) Pioneer Pioneer DV-656A Rega Rega Apollo Rotel Rotel RCD-1072 Sony Sony SCD-X501 (SACD/CD) DACs Benchmark DAC 1 Pre Cambridge Dacmagic 2 Mk.II Feel free to bump the thread adding your own findings, please There must be more players that can't decode pre-emphasis. Anyone?
So what are we using as a quick check to confirm PE decoding? If I have a copy of the Toshiba Abbey Road CD, should I just listen for a really bright presentation? If it sounds OK via the player's output, then I can assume PE decoding is occurring?
I'll go one better: rip that CD to your computer to hear what it sounds like without de-emphasis. The difference should be obvious. Then you know what to listen for.
Oh, yeah. I've learned this way a few times! There are some PE CDs that aren't flagged properly though, right? And aren't there some where the flag is set in one place or another (Table of Contents vs. ??)- wondering if redbook identifies the flag regardless? I've been using WaveEmph since I stream from a hard drive, but I'll be getting a CD player at some point. Assuming it handles the PE correctly, then it will be interesting to compare WaveEmph files versus CD.
PE can be set in both the TOC and the subcode stream. Current versions of EAC only detect it in the TOC. CD players should be able to detect it in either place. Straight rips (without any post processing, a la WaveEmph) will never be de-emphasized, regardless of if PE is detected during ripping or not.
Ok, thanks lukpac. I've always wondered how close WaveEmph was to the code in redbook. With any luck, my new player will decode properly and then I'll be able to compare my processed files against the CD through the same D/A converter. Pretty close to an "apples to apples" I think.
I should have said universal/BD players. I'm going by experience. I haven't had a dedicated CD player in some time, so I don't know if the latest crop does a good job of detecting PE in the subcode.
The subcode. Well, I'll to try a PE disc known to have the flag setting there as opposed to in the ToC. SamS had mentioned Abbey Road and I thought I recalled an oddity with its flag.
I'd forgotten most of my experimentation with PE decoding, subcode and forced-decoding via SoX. I do have an original Abbey Road, and that should always be my test for players, as it only has the subcode PE, nothing in the TOC. I just need to dig up a reference disc that has PE in the TOC and keep both of them handy for testing players.
I take it that the Oppo's (specifically the 95), do NOT properly decode pre-empahasis? I wonder why the newer Univerals players stoped including this Red Book feature?
The OPPOs recognize and properly decode PE flags in the TOC. If the PE flag is in the subcode-only, it will not be passed. The quantity of discs that reflect this disruptive pattern is unknown. My best guess is ~100 early CD titles. It's not just a player that will have a problem with this, it's any upstream device (i.e. DAC or receiver) that you happen to be bitstreaming to.
Technics SL-PD8 5-cd changer decodes pre-emphasis. Tested with 1980's Denon Classical CDs from Japan (ripped to computer and burnt again without any flags) vs. original disc.