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Is there a big difference in the Signal to Noise ratio between 94dbs and 100dbs? I have an old (9years old to be exact) Kenwood changer that is 94 dbs, I believe. Would a new one that is a 100dbs make an SQ difference...or should I just stick with my immortal CD changer and save my money?

Are there other features that would make a difference with sound quality (ie 8 times oversampling). I was looking at getting an Excelon one that plays MP3s, but I typically only listen to store bought CDs so it is prolly not worht the extra 100 bucks. What should I look for (it has to be Kenwood BTW)? any opinions?

These are two that I have considered:

Kenwood excelon KDC-CX87

Kenwood KDC-C717

this one also seems to be the same, but silver?:

Kenwood KDC-C719


Thanks!

Anyone have any recomomendations for places that sell kenwood for cheap...I checked my usual places online but I can only find the changers listed above.

 
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ok, SNR is esentially the amount of noise created within the system (The ratio of the largest, unclipped, signal compared to the noise present in the system). The higher the SNR (its expressed in negative dB so -100 > -94), the higher the noise floor is and the more "hissing" you will hear in your speakers. For instance, remember TAPES, lol? those are like only in the -70dB range. The Decibel is based on the logrithmic scale so for every 3 dB, you DOUBLE the volume. SO this means if something is -3dB, it is 1/2 as loud. So your situation, there is a 6dB difference (4 times less noise in the new CD changer) -94 is so low that you probably won't be able to hear the difference but some people may (most noticeably in the tweeters).

Technology in CD players has increased significantly since its enception. They now implement OVER-SAMPLING which is a big help. This gives you better frequecy response and a truer reproduction of the original music content. In simple terms, oversampling adds more data points (samples) to the recorded media. Without going into the physics behind it, this loosens the strict requirements on the analog filters that come after the D to A conversion. Back in the day, it was (and still is) hard to create complex analog filters so many artifacts that were created from the sampling process was sent onto the speakers. Oversampling eleiminates these artifacts so you're signal is pure. Simple answer, I would suggest buyin the new changer and enjoy the bueatiful technology!

If you want a more, detailed explanation on what over-sampling is and why its so good, let me know, I'd be more than happy to explain, but I'll also understand if you don't give a s#!t about it either, just as long as its in your changer, lol.

~Tbone

 
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I totally agree with what tbone said with the exception of one part- 3 dB isn't double the volume, it's 10 dB that is twice as loud.

 
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Thank you, that helps!

 
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not really tho...

-3dB is V0dB*Sqrt(2)/2 = .707V

if power is : P=V^2/R than -3dB (power) = .707 * .707 = .499V 1/2 POWER

(I'm pretty sure that is correct, not that fonto cares anymore, lol but 10 dB is not correct...i'm drunk right now, but i will repost tomrrow if i am not correct, JohnDoe, do you havethe math to prove your point? (don't take me wrong here, this isn't against you, but i just dont think 10dB is right, prove me wrong )

~Tbone

 
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alot goes into a cd player, sn ratio is really the least of yrou worries. i have yet to find one solid feature, no matter how nitty gritty, that can tell if there is an improvement of one radio over another.

in the end, its how it sounds. i too personally would go fo rthe new changer, based on life expecancy, and yes, technology. even if the advantage is all in pshyco accoustics, its still an improvement.

as to the volume debate, the short answer is there is a difference between pressure (spl meter), energy (also dB scale), and apparent loudness. But mics measure pressure, where a 3dB increase means a 150% increase in excursion, cause by a doubling of power or cone area. apparent loudness is of course subjective, but the general accepted value is 10 dB louder to "sound" twice as loud.

 
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hehe tbone, i miss my old days of romping around the forum inebriated! (yes even sober i cant type at all) but you got the math precicely right. doubling the power will increase your metered pressure by 3 dB

 
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I must of misunderstood the first time I read. Doubling your power is 3 dB plus, but 60 dB is twice as loud as 50 dB (10 dB is twice as loud).

 
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haha, I'm still reading it T-bone

So I ordered the first one that I listed KDC-C717 .

It was $40 dollars cheaper then onlinecarstereo.com and $50 then Ikesound at Woofersetc.com I was about to buy it onlinecarstereo too! I saw it for about 125 on ebay then with 20 dollars shipping.

Woofersetc is in LA and I still have to pay a $20 dollar shipping charge because I work during the day and don't want to spend 2 hours in traffic going to the otherside of LA...and I had to pay tax too because it is in CA So it ended up being $160. Oh well, cheaper then everywhere else.

 
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I belive that you are incorrect in your assumptions. Please back up your numbers with the mathamatical background. I believe my background supports my response as being correct. Where does your info come from?

~Tbone


3dB is 3dB weather its -50dB to -53dB or -97dB to -100dB, it doesn't matter

 
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your response is correct- doubling the power does mean 3 more dB. What I'm saying has nothing to with power, just that an increase of 10 dB sounds like twice the volume, I just misunderstood your first response and i'm talking about something different.

 
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...soooo, um, what do yall think of my choice in changers?

 
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noce choice, i'm sure you'll be happy with it.

~tBONE

 
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