A CD player extracts digital information from the CD - a series of 0's and 1's. The laser is a mechanical device which moves so is likely to fail sooner or later (dust, lubrication, motors, control).
In any case many DVD players will play a CD and provide an output, and they are often the cheapest means to output a digital signal. (But I also advise friends to see one in operation before they buy, or check (e.g. customer feedback comments) whether the player takes a long time to output the music after loading the CD).
(sorry that this is in such matter of fact terms but I am short of time)
Brief story about my decision to buy a new car - CD related . It was a model launched in late 2015, and as both Mrs CS and myself were enthusiastic about it we went ahead and bought it. However it doesn't have a CD player and there is no way of fitting one. The audio is integrated with the dashboard satnav display and reversing camera. There is no interface for, for example, a CD player cassette with, say. 5 CD's loaded, under a seat. It has FM, DAB radio, and a USB, and bluetooth input. The assumption is, obviously, I will be playing "tracks" or playlists from my mobile phone or iPod type unit. I won't be transferring my CDs en masse to a USB stick (in any case it jumbles up the tracks) and its dangerous to fumble with navigating an iPod menu when I'm driving . I could open a CD case and change a CD with my left hand safely when I was on a straight road at a steady speed.
The car does, however have a 3.5mm input socket (3.5mm jack like on headphones). I had an old walkman style CD player but the slightest bump caused it to mistrack. I needed a player designed for cars. I solved my problem by buying a portable DVD player (the sort which parents give to children for long flights or car journeys) and it can cope with car movement, and it outputs to the 3.5mm jack. As long a this lasts and/or they make these units I will be alright.
- The 0's and 1's go to an electronic converter into analogue sound - the DAC.
- The DAC started out being part of the CD player unit (and a CD player will still have one - and that outputs to an amplifier via the left and right phono sockets usually)
- Its possible to sidestep the DAC in the CD player in quite a lot of cases, by - for audio - using a digital output (either optical (toslink) or digital co-axial (looks like a single phono plug and lead)
- That digital output, if used, can go to a DAC of one's own choice - a standalone unit let's say (although some AV Receivers/Amps etc have a DAC incorporated) . A DAC can be cheap, or have wonderful characteristics, or dressed up in gold and diamond studded boxes (take your choice). They are all based on a microchip.
- Only one or two or perhaps three (IIRC) component manufacturers make CD laser reading mechanisms and they are incorporated into many models of numerous manufacturers.
- Otherwise some specialist manufacturers make it a selling point to make their own transport mechanisms. Presumably at quite some cost, which is reflected in the price. When that mechanical device fails, you are reliant on the manufacturer still being in business (or not taken over) and having a replacement part for their specially designed mechanism, and there will be a cost in fitting it.
- For myself I advise friends to look for the cheapest CD player with a digital output. To purchase a DAC separately. To expect to dispose of the CD player if they (or I, as their friend) cannot get it to work from a cotton bud clean or other gambit having opened it up (unplugged from the mains).
- There is speculation that CD players will cease to be made as sales have fallen so much. Probably idle speculation - I'm sure someone will carry on making them.
In any case many DVD players will play a CD and provide an output, and they are often the cheapest means to output a digital signal. (But I also advise friends to see one in operation before they buy, or check (e.g. customer feedback comments) whether the player takes a long time to output the music after loading the CD).
(sorry that this is in such matter of fact terms but I am short of time)
Brief story about my decision to buy a new car - CD related . It was a model launched in late 2015, and as both Mrs CS and myself were enthusiastic about it we went ahead and bought it. However it doesn't have a CD player and there is no way of fitting one. The audio is integrated with the dashboard satnav display and reversing camera. There is no interface for, for example, a CD player cassette with, say. 5 CD's loaded, under a seat. It has FM, DAB radio, and a USB, and bluetooth input. The assumption is, obviously, I will be playing "tracks" or playlists from my mobile phone or iPod type unit. I won't be transferring my CDs en masse to a USB stick (in any case it jumbles up the tracks) and its dangerous to fumble with navigating an iPod menu when I'm driving . I could open a CD case and change a CD with my left hand safely when I was on a straight road at a steady speed.
The car does, however have a 3.5mm input socket (3.5mm jack like on headphones). I had an old walkman style CD player but the slightest bump caused it to mistrack. I needed a player designed for cars. I solved my problem by buying a portable DVD player (the sort which parents give to children for long flights or car journeys) and it can cope with car movement, and it outputs to the 3.5mm jack. As long a this lasts and/or they make these units I will be alright.
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