Do all 'modern' CD players play gapless?

[Guest]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the machine we bought at Christmas has either developed a fault and is no longer playing CD's gapless or in fact never did...just serendipity that the CDs I have been playing didn't make it obvious.

So just wondered if gapless playing of CDs was 'normal' for a CD player.

[Bryn]

If you meant the continuous playback of two adjacent CDA tracks which divide a continuous stretch of music, then yes. CD players should play though seamlessly. If that is not happening, the player is faulty. If you are referring to an mp3 CD, then no, expect gaps. I think Sony produced a personal CD player that could be set to play CD-Rs of their ATRAC lossy compression files seamlessly, but that format is now basically redundant.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've brought this one up before with regard to Volkswagen in-car CD players. The RCD200/210 does NOT play gapless, and neither does the RCD300. However, the more expensive RCD500 plays CDs perfectly, but VW responded by ignoring all my letters until the statutory limit was almost there, and only with a curt dismissive reply even then. The local VW dealer said the company regarded it as a "characteristic" rather than a fault.

[johnb]

The local VW dealer said the company regarded it as a "characteristic" rather than a fault.

That reminds me of the techie 'joke' that a bug is a 'feature' rather than a fault. But surely there should be a standard that CD players should comply with for playing red book CDs.

[MrGongGong]

I used to make sound installations with multiple CD players and discovered that when one wants to have "random" playing there was considerable variation in what machines did with no information anywhere as to which kind of "random play" you were going to get.
I guess this must be a similar situation

[Resurrection Man]

Thanks everyone. I've got a call being escalated within Phillips technical department. Be interesting to see if the reply is that 'it doesn't play gapless'.....

[JFLL]

Thanks everyone. I've got a call being escalated within Phillips technical department. Be interesting to see if the reply is that 'it doesn't play gapless'.....

Does that mean, RM, that in operas such as Wagner's, where the CD is divided into tracks but one normally hears no break, that with your machine there are two-second breaks between tracks? Or is there just a momentary but still perceptible silence? Either would be very alarming, if that 's going to become standard.

[Richard Tarleton]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the machine we bought at Christmas has either developed a fault and is no longer playing CD's gapless or in fact never did...just serendipity that the CDs I have been playing didn't make it obvious.

I had this problem with an NAD CD player I bought about 3-4 years ago - the problem with these machines was discussed on the old boards. Like you the first few discs I played had separate tracks so I didn't notice at first. NAD thought they could fix it but couldn't, and in the end the dealer (a specialist hifi dealer with branches in Swansea and Cardiff) took it back and gave me a Marantz instead which has been perfectly OK.

[VodkaDilc]

I have read these posts several times and still do not understand what 'gapless' means. I have been using CD players for most of the years they have existed (at home and in educational institutions) and I have never experienced a 'gap'. Have I just been lucky - or have I misunderstood?

[Richard Tarleton]

The problem with the CD player I refer to was that when a continuous piece of music on a CD nevertheless had separate track numbers within it (eg in operas, or a Strauss tone poem where the CD has helpful track numbers) the band change was noticeable. If you were listening to a 4-movement symphony with just 4 tracks coinciding with the movements, or to a recital, you wouldn't be aware of it. I imagine this is the problem the OP has. I hope this makes sense

PS it appeared to be a problem with this make, or model - I hadn't come across it before.

[Resurrection Man]

I think Richard has explained it pretty well. As mentioned, up until now I am guessing that I was 'fortunate' in playing CDs that had, effectively, discrete tracks. For example, Herbert Howells track 1 is A Hymn for St Cecilia; Track 2 is Salve Regina. So one would expect a natural 'break' between tracks.

But, again as has been mentioned, something like an opera has a continuous Act. The record company will split the Act into tracks but these 'tracks' are only really bookmarks ...the music is there continuously. In my case there is a noticeable hiccup as it changes track from one to the next. Although it took Dark Side of the Moon to highlight the problem!

I do so hope that it is a faulty player and not inherent in the design as I spent ages and ages finding a radio/CD player for the kitchen that had decent sound and good facilities.

[VodkaDilc]

The problem with the CD player I refer to was that when a continuous piece of music on a CD nevertheless had separate track numbers within it (eg in operas, or a Strauss tone poem where the CD has helpful track numbers) the band change was noticeable. If you were listening to a 4-movement symphony with just 4 tracks coinciding with the movements, or to a recital, you wouldn't be aware of it. I imagine this is the problem the OP has. I hope this makes sense

PS it appeared to be a problem with this make, or model - I hadn't come across it before.

Thanks you for explaining. Surely you have a faulty player.

[Resurrection Man]

Thanks you for explaining. Surely you have a faulty player.

I would hope so although some CD players don't support gapless CDs. If it is faulty (and John Lewis are perfectly happy to replace it (again)) then that's the problem solved...unless I get another duff one!

But if it is inherent in the (non)design of this particular model then I really want my money back....which might/might not prove problematic...bought just before Christmas. And then we start the whole merry-go-round again of trying to find a decent radio/CD player.

[Resurrection Man]

Thought that I would give an update. Researching a little bit more, to handle 'gapless' CDs the player needs to buffer ahead so that it can continue 'playing' while the track changes. You would expect that a CD player on a unit costing over £200 would have this facility. My cheapie player does.

The Philips DCB852 does not. So it's a return for a refund.

Have to say that throughout all this, John Lewis Customer Service and Technical Support have been superb.

[salymap]

I just want another small CD player forthe kitchen for'old fashioned' CDs. I have an Argos catalogue, print now too small for anyone to read,I should think. Can anyone update me as I can'tgetto the shops but mysecond CD c 1995, has gone to CD heaven. It was known to the family as a ghetto-blaster but lasted 18 years.