Build, ease of use, optical out

Internal converters, so-so tray mechanism

This unit is well built, with an Ok transport. Using the optical out fed into a midrange (Yamaha) HT receiver, using the receiver''s 24 bit DAC''s it provides a warm and somewhat uncoloured sound, lacking a bit of depth and bottom end tightness. Internal DAC''s in the CD unit are just not up to scratch. Although highly recommended by WhatHiFi, there are better units out there, like the low range Sony''s, offering reasonable sound performance and an excellent and smooth mechanism. If you are going for Yamaha the CDX-596 or higher offers better internal electronics and a 20 bit DAC.

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Sony, Marantz

Beautiful Design, loads of features.

Muddy mid-range, not dynamic.

Purchased the Yammy as I was sold on the `Natural Sound` claim and one good review. I bought it `cos I was sick of my Sony`s tinny sound ( cymbles louder than vocals ). The 393 has a great finish and some good features for tape and c.d recording. The sound is warm BUT very one dimentional. It`s certainly not tinny, the upper frequencies are smoothed out but the mid range is well flat - vocals appear distant. Bass is o.k, but with a poor mid-range then bass is really irelevent! It reminded me of a good quality tape recording - thats all!
I ended up purchasing a Cambridge audio which was a bit pricier but sonically amazing ( esp for rock music ).

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Sony c.d player.

AUS$300 CD player

Digital output into a mid-range HT receiver (Denon AVR-3300) with a good subwoofer shows up a really muddled low frequency response from the CD player.

I bought this CD player as a transport believing that using the digital output would not ruin the signal from the CD, but it does.

This Yamaha CD player has a major flaw in the low frequency area.. where my DVD player playing audio CDs has heaps of clarity and detail through my subwoofer, the same CD through the CD player has a rumbling muddy bass with no detail rather than a well defined and tight bass (through the same speakers).

You won't notice the problem if you haven't got really good speakers or a sub that respond well below 40Hz.

I wish I had spent a bit more money but I'm stuck with it.
If you've got a good quality audio setup, don't spoil it by buying this CD player.

You'd expect a basic CD player these days to at least reproduce the digital stream faithfully. I can buy a $50 CDROM drive that does this.

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Onkyo DV-717

CDX393-MKII an enhanced version of CDX393 , well built, optical output integrates well with AV receivers. Great buy for under A$300.

Remote control lacks in a mute button. Display dimmer comes in 3 dimming modes but doesn't turn off.

CDX393-MKII is a cd player that follows the streamline design of current Yamaha receivers. Distinctly expressed with the V-plate cut. Claims to have a faster loading caddy, the improved version biggest asset however is the addition of optical output. A feature missing in most other cd-players. My taste of music varies from Classical, Jazz to Hardcore techno. The player sounds warm with Jazz. However flaws come into light with some bass extensions with techno numbers. The missing mute button and phono output seduced me to upgrade to the CDX495. It is certainly the cd player with the best looking remote control around. For A$285, its a great buy for a humble piece of equipment.

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NAD, Denon

Good all rounder, suit any-one at entry level that does'nt want to send a lot of money

No Variable output (but who needs it anyway?)

I bought this unit to go with my RXV-795 reciever. Hooked it up with some tara lab interconnects, (prism 22) and listened... allright... Then bought a A$12.50 fibre optic link and used it between the digital output on the CD and plugged into the CD digital input on the amp, WOW! what a difference! The DAC in the amplifier virtually ate the CD DAC up at first sight!! Definately the way to use this player. Have it purely as a transport and use an external DAC or one that is built in to your amplifier.