Some say that all CD and DVD players sound alike. "It's digital, and bits are bits." Not true! The signal coming from the laser is analog until it's decoded. The output circuits downstream of the DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) are analog, too.

Fact is, all but the most expensive CD players ($5K and up) can be significantly improved with quality parts — starting with the power cord, which (odd but true!) improves low bass. Next are the diodes that turn AC into DC but introduce distortion; the filter capacitors that smooth out the voltage but can impede power delivery for musical peaks; and the DC-filtering coupling capacitors that make high frequencies grainy and harsh. More radical surgery involves upgrading opamps (operational amplifiers), which affect timing, timbre, and detail.

Mechanically, most players benefit from chassis damping and transport damping, to reduce unwanted vibrations; isolation, using either compliant feet or rigid cones in combination with a solid platform; and damping of the clock crystal.

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