Audio Systems: CD player, sony str de598, google search

Question
Dear Kevin,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the JVC model i mentioned was bought in the UK which is where i am!

I am looking for a whole system (mini system) which comprises CD player, tape player and speakers. I will be grateful if you can give me more options.

Thanks again

Austin

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Followup To
Question -
Hello Kevin,

I have a CD player (JVC DX-E10) and i want to replace it with one which is of a much higher quality in terms of sound production but not massive in size.
What criteria determines the quality, is it the audio output in watts? can you advise?

Thank you

Austin
Answer -
Dear Austin,

From what I can glean from a Google search--since the JVC DX-E10 didn't show up on either JVC's American or European sites--is that the DX-E10 is a self-contained mini-system with CD player, receiver, and speakers marketed exclusively in Europe, especially Germany and Russia.

Are you looking to replace the whole system or just the CD player?

If you're replacing the CD player only, I recommend any, cheap DVD player. There are two ways to approach this. First, get something cheap and replace it when it breaks. Or get something with some build quality and pay more. I no longer recommend stand-alone CD players because DVD players do everything a CD players does and more: MP3s, DVDs, etc., and the electronics, especially the sound reproduction algorithms, are more up-to-date than those for CD players, which have remained largely unchanged for 25+ years.

If you're replacing a whole system, you'll need a receiver and speakers. These depend largely on your needs and your budget. Affordable components include the Sony STR-DE598 receiver (US$170.00 retail) and PSB Alpha speakers (US$250/pair; dealers at www.psbspeakers.com). The more you want to spend the better you can do in terms of options on your receiver and higher audio fidelity with your speakers. If you're looking for a whole system and want more options, drop me a line.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin

Answer
Dear Austin,

I do not recommend mini-systems, especially those with cassette decks. The electronics will be one cut above basic, and the mechanics will the elementary. They have to be to pack in all the "features" and components *and* keep the price down. IMHO they're not well made, break too easily, and are not worth the investment.

That said, if you're absolutely wedded to a mini-system, stick to the better brands with a reputation for all-around, solid build quality. Among these I would suggest Onkyo, Nakamichi, Linn (Scotland, but expensive), and NAD (a Canadian company which is part of the Lenbrook group, which includes PSB speakers). However, with all of these, a cassette deck is going to be an issue. Since cassette tapes are no longer manufactured, more and more makers have been dropping cassette decks from their one-box products. For years some of the best cassette decks around were made by Nakamichi, so you may want to try them first.

Another caution: Japanese speakers are voiced very differently from those designed in N. America and Europe. Make sure that you get the sound you want. Another reason I would lean toward NAD and PSB. Lenbrook packages the NAD L53 CD/DVD player/receiver with a couple of PSB Alpha speakers in something called the "NAD Music System"--a neat and very musical solution. Trouble is: no cassette deck.

Unless you settle for the lower end boxes (Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, JVC, Aiwa), you may have to find an outboard cassette deck. And, sorry, I won't recommend any of the lower end boxes.

Kindest regards,

Kevin