Audio Systems: Teac PD-H500i CD player problem, digital optical cable, rms output

Question
Hi there, i have a problem with a Teac PD-H500i single disc CD player i recently purchased (second hand). When i connect the line out to a stand alone amp (pioneer SA-708) + play a CD the sound is heavily distorted ( i would say clipping ). This is at any volume level. I have tried the same CD using a DIFFERENT CD player with the same amp & speakers and the sound is fine. I thought at first it was due to the 2v RMS output of the TEAC unit not being suited to the input sensitivity of the amp. But i have used a Minidisc player with variable input sensitivity to drop the signal going to the amp and there is still major clipping/distortion present. I am just waiting for an digital optical cable to try the optical out on the CD player to see if the line out section is at fault.

Please could you help shed some light on this problem & any probable causes/remedies?

Thankyou for your time,

Regards,

Lee

Answer
Dear Lee,

I've used any variety of CD player with amplifiers older than your Pioneer--a neat integrated amp BTW--without any issues. I doubt if input sensitivity is an issue, unless there's a hidden compatability issue between CD players made, say, for the American market and integrated amps, like the SA-780, made for the European market. I'd try the CD player with any other integrated amp or receiver to make sure that its output signal is okay.

BTW, unless the Pioneer has a digital input--and it's probably too old for that, a digital output from the CD player isn't going to be of much use without an outboard D/A convertor, a clear case of overkill just to get an old integrated amp working.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin