P880PRS vs. Nakamichi CD-500

[applejax 10+ year member]

You won't find a new Denon deck at $500. They aren't produced for the US, and while you can get your hands on them, they are quite expensive and rare.

You may find a nice used one pop up on eBay here and there, like the 950 or the 970. My 950 was a nice unit. Not spectacular, but real nice and better than most of the mainstream crap.

To evaluate the Nak vs. the Pioneeer, first we need to set a baseline since they are different units. So, let's remove any processing the Pioneer has, and just compare them as straight CD players.

The Nak will almost certainly be superior.

Once you bring processing into the equation, then the Pioneer may have some adjustments that are attractive, and you may even get it to sound very good. For arguements sake, let's say you can use this processing get it to sound as good as the Nak.

There are different philosophies here. Mine is to focus on sound quality without processing. I don't attempt to use processing to make a mediocre unit sound good. I would much rather start with a high quality source, then, if necessary, apply minimal processing as needed to compensate for the things that don't necessarily remain consistent: my tastes and mood, the type of music and recordings, and compromises between the system and the car.

Garbage in, garbage out. If your source is mediocre, you can process the heck out if it, but it's still compensating for a poor signal.

*Disclaimer: The above post are strictly my thoughts and opinions and may not reflect my thoughts and opinions. Sound quality is subjective.

 

[whitemax 10+ year member]

I think that the 880PRS is far from being a mediocre unit.

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

There are different philosophies here. Mine is to focus on sound quality without processing. I don't attempt to use processing to make a mediocre unit sound good. I would much rather start with a high quality source, then, if necessary, apply minimal processing as needed to compensate for the things that don't necessarily remain consistent: my tastes and mood, the type of music and recordings, and compromises between the system and the car.

Garbage in, garbage out. If your source is mediocre, you can process the heck out if it, but it's still compensating for a poor signal.

We are not talking about mediocre deck by any means....

 

[AAAAAAA 10+ year member]

You won't find a new Denon deck at $500. They aren't produced for the US, and while you can get your hands on them, they are quite expensive and rare.
You may find a nice used one pop up on eBay here and there, like the 950 or the 970. My 950 was a nice unit. Not spectacular, but real nice and better than most of the mainstream crap.

To evaluate the Nak vs. the Pioneeer, first we need to set a baseline since they are different units. So, let's remove any processing the Pioneer has, and just compare them as straight CD players.

The Nak will almost certainly be superior.

Once you bring processing into the equation, then the Pioneer may have some adjustments that are attractive, and you may even get it to sound very good. For arguements sake, let's say you can use this processing get it to sound as good as the Nak.

There are different philosophies here. Mine is to focus on sound quality without processing. I don't attempt to use processing to make a mediocre unit sound good. I would much rather start with a high quality source, then, if necessary, apply minimal processing as needed to compensate for the things that don't necessarily remain consistent: my tastes and mood, the type of music and recordings, and compromises between the system and the car.

Garbage in, garbage out. If your source is mediocre, you can process the heck out if it, but it's still compensating for a poor signal.

*Disclaimer: The above post are strictly my thoughts and opinions and may not reflect my thoughts and opinions. Sound quality is subjective.

EQ's and xovers have everything to do with correcting your speakers limitations and environment and little to do with making a bad sounding deck sound better.

In other words, if both setups are the same, if one deck needs EQing then so will the other.

 

[applejax 10+ year member]

two character limitation

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

To evaluate the Nak vs. the Pioneeer, first we need to set a baseline since they are different units. So, let's remove any processing the Pioneer has, and just compare them as straight CD players.

The Nak will almost certainly be superior.

Why? Because of the name on the front of it? This deck is FAR from the 700, make no mistake about it. Unless you've listened to both of these decks in the same setup this statement is effectively null and void.

Sound quality is subjective.

To a certain point yes. My definition of sound quality is getting as close to the original master as possible without varying from it. If a listener likes the sound of crap that is NOT sound quality.

 

[applejax 10+ year member]

Why? Because of the name on the front of it? This deck is FAR from the 700, make no mistake about it. Unless you've listened to both of these decks in the same setup this statement is effectively null and void.

Okay, I'll give you that one since I haven't A/B'd the units as should be done for a direct comparison. Have you? It doesn't necessarily mean the statement is null and void, though. I've heard many different things in many different systems, and by listening and playing, you can still determine some idea of each individual component. I've also A/B'd things in controlled enviornments, and the result has totally flip-flopped once in the car. Point is, you do the best you can with the information availalbe, which is why this thread exists in the first place.

Your anti-Nakamichi campaign seems based on name only - I haven't seen any actual comparisons based on your ears.

To a certain point yes. My definition of sound quality is getting as close to the original master as possible without varying from it. If a listener likes the sound of crap that is NOT sound quality.

Point is, and you said it in your post, "My definition". That "sound of crap" may be blissful music to anothers ears, just as many would be indifferent to systems you may be smitten over.

 

[AAAAAAA 10+ year member]

Point is, and you said it in your post, "My definition". That "sound of crap" may be blissful music to anothers ears, just as many would be indifferent to systems you may be smitten over.

I am sure his point is that most people don't know how a good system is actually suppose to sound: IE like it would in real life in front of the instruments.

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

Okay, I'll give you that one since I haven't A/B'd the units as should be done for a direct comparison. It doesn't necessarily mean the statement is null and void, though. I've heard many .

Um.. yes it does.. If you havent heard it, dont sit here and make claims on the unit. Let us know exactly why its better, and what internal parts make it better.

 

[Ctminime 10+ year member]

correct me if i am wrong but i have this idea in my head that i got from somwhere (dont ask where) but isnt it right that NAK HUs actually do sound processing with analog tubes and then convert to a digital signal? or am i just smoking crack?

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Okay, I'll give you that one since I haven't A/B'd the units as should be done for a direct comparison. Have you? It doesn't necessarily mean the statement is null and void, though. I've heard many different things in many different systems, and by listening and playing, you can still determine some idea of each individual component. I've also A/B'd things in controlled enviornments, and the result has totally flip-flopped once in the car. Point is, you do the best you can with the information availalbe, which is why this thread exists in the first place.
Your anti-Nakamichi campaign seems based on name only - I haven't seen any actual comparisons based on your ears.

I'm not on an anti-Nakamichi campaign. In fact I think its a very reputable name for electronics. They used to make some of the BEST home audio equipment in the world. What I am saying is that you seem to be basing your opinion of it being better than the Pioneer based on name only. I was merely stating that the 880 is one of Pioneers better offerings while the 500 is NOT one of Nakamichi's better offerings. Therefore, the Nakamichi name on the front of it DOES NOT make it a superior unit. In my opinion, the Pioneer is hands down a better unit because of the processing and sound tailoring that is possible with it. In the home much less processing is needed. But a car is a totally different animal.

Point is, and you said it in your post, "My definition". That "sound of crap" may be blissful music to anothers ears, just as many would be indifferent to systems you may be smitten over.

I am sure his point is that most people don't know how a good system is actually suppose to sound: IE like it would in real life in front of the instruments.

This post sums up my reply to that part.

 

[farshad 10+ year member]

how much does it cost an external eq for the cd500? if i add it can i have a much better sound than the p880?

 

[applejax 10+ year member]

I'm not on an anti-Nakamichi campaign. In fact I think its a very reputable name for electronics. They used to make some of the BEST home audio equipment in the world. What I am saying is that you seem to be basing your opinion of it being better than the Pioneer based on name only. I was merely stating that the 880 is one of Pioneers better offerings while the 500 is NOT one of Nakamichi's better offerings. Therefore, the Nakamichi name on the front of it DOES NOT make it a superior unit. In my opinion, the Pioneer is hands down a better unit because of the processing and sound tailoring that is possible with it. In the home much less processing is needed. But a car is a totally different animal.

Excellent post.

My tastes would prefer the Nakamichi. I could easily see, however, how someone would prefer the processing power built into the Pioneer. My preference is still for minimal processing, be it in home or in car.

 

[applejax 10+ year member]

how much does it cost an external eq for the cd500? if i add it can i have a much better sound than the p880?

Depends on how far you want to go. You could go from a nice, small parametric EQ, such as the Arc PEQ-5, or you could go for the gusto and look at something like the Zapco DSP6-SL / DRC-SL. AudioControl is a popular pick, and they have a couple of in-dash eq's, as well as a few trunk mounted ones.

Oh, but to actually answer your question on cost, you'd probably be looking around $150 for a good, basic in dash eq and moving up from there.

I'm not even going to touch the second question. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[99StangGt 10+ year member]

I have had a Nak cd35z, cd45z and a cd400. Also a Pioneer 860, 880, Alpine 9835, Eclipse 8454, 8053. I feel that with everything set to flat the naks were warmer sounding, not colored. The others were a little more harsh on the top end, not bad at all. The naks are limited without all the processing. The others with processing I could always get to sound great. One of my favorite systems was a Nak cd35z, nak analog crossover with a pair of Focal 165k's. The only problem I had was with the tweeters, I couldnt tame them with the nak. I would like to go back and try a Nak or Denon deck with all analog crossovers and EQ's.