Yamaha has released the CD-C603, a new CD player and CD changer that supports up to five compact discs for listeners who haven’t parted with physical media yet.
Here are the key features of the CD-C603 that Yamaha shared, including PlayXChange, a feature that enables discs to be changed while another is still playing:
- Short signal paths, sophisticated circuitry, intelligent digital servo and laser pickup floating mechanism for high-quality sound
- Fully-opening tray for changing 5 discs at a time. PlayXChange lets you change 4 discs while the 5th one keeps playing
- Pure Direct Mode to achieve the lowest possible noise interference
- Playback music files (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC) via USB port on front-panel. Up to 96kHz/24bit WAV/FLAC
- RCA and Optical outputs
- Random, Repeat, Programmed and other convenient playback functions
And here’s a few more details that Yamaha shared regarding those features, including how Pure Direct is supposed to offer even greater sound:
PURE DIRECT
The CD-C603 offers Pure Direct, which is the same popular feature included in Yamaha amplifiers and receivers. By pressing the button on the front panel or on the remote control, it shuts down the digital audio output and turns off the display. This achieves the lowest possible noise interference, and the highest sound quality of the analog audio output.
CONVENIENTLY CHANGE CDS
PlayXChange allows you to change four CDs while the fifth keeps playing. Enjoy uninterrupted music! Also, the CD-C603 has a fully-opening disc tray for changing 5 discs at the same time.
HIGH QUALITY SOUND
With a sophisticated internal layout, the CD-C603 plays music with sound full of dynamics and clarity.
The CD-C603 also provides high-quality play of music files (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC) stored on USB memory devices via a USB port on the front panel.
“Yamaha is the only audio brand in the world that manages every facet of sound, from its creation to the moment it graces your ears,” the company said. “Simply close your eyes, and you won’t just hear the music – you’ll experience the unparalleled sensation of being genuinely closer to the artist.”
The Yamaha CD-C603 costs $549.95, and it’s already available to order from retailers that include B&H Photo, where it’s listed as a top seller.
Discussion (11 replies)
Join Discussion →I had one of these in 1996. Could change 4 discs while 5th was playing, like on a turntable type arrangement. It was pretty much garbage but in the 90s those things were cool.
I was always jealous of the 100 CD “jukeboxes” that went into cars (and some home stereos)
I remember the 100 disc carousel dvd version.
Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999
I still have a Sony 5 disc changer from the 90's sitting in my office collecting dust. Still have the remote too!
Are we reposting articles from the mid-90's now?
I have to admit when I saw this thread the first thing I checked was the date. ;)
I had a Sony disc changer back in 1996. I believe my model was the 3-disc version but I think that line also had a 5-disc version at one point (might have been a product refresh in '97-98 though). I recall that for a while these were the absolute coolest things to have, before PCs/internet really took off in the consumer space.
As cool as they were back then, I'm not sure what the point of seeking one today is. I do understand playing CDs physically, I do that myself, but these days my focus is on audio quality. I want the best true 16-bit DAC (R-2R or other multibit) and the best CD mechanism connected to the highest quality lowest noise Class A/AB amplifier circuit with as little SMPS PSUs in the chain as possible. And as far as the CD part of such a system is concerned, most of the really high quality stuff was made in the mid-1980s, like the Philips TDA1541 based players with the early zinc or solid aluminum mechanisms (heavy enough to wield as a weapon!). Unfortunately I don't think you can make a quality changer mechanism, I think it's a similar situation to the auto-reverse cassete decks, also a cool feature that ultimately came at the expense of sound quality.
I had a Technique CD changer that did the same thing back in 1993.
This is clearly a audiophile snake water type product. Can't blame Yamaha for going for the money grab here.
Snake water? Is that better or worse than snake oil? :LOL:
I've never had a cd changer, never even thought about it. I don't mind swapping CDs. What would be cool to have though is a jukebox for the 7" singles. That's a bit too much of a hassle to swap or flip after every song.
To be fair... I have no idea why I put snake water. Snake oil is clearly the term.