CD Stereo Components

• A CD player is just one of the components that make up a complete CD stereo system. Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  A CD stereo system typically consists of a receiver, CD player and speakers. Systems sometimes incorporate a separate tuner and amplifier in addition to the CD player, and possibly a turntable as well to accommodate die-hard vinyl-LP fans. Newer CD stereo components integrate a CD/DVD player with the receiver and can function as the basis of a home theater system.

Receiver

• The receiver is generally considered to be the primary building block on which stereo systems are based. The receiver is actually a collection of components, including an amplifier and AM/FM radio tuner put together in a single unit. Typically, a receiver features bass and treble controls so the user can adjust the sound to his liking. Less common are receivers that have built-in equalizer controls that permit further customization of the sound.

  It's becoming increasingly common for receivers to offer advanced features such as multichannel surround sound, Dolby noise reduction and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) outputs. Certain receivers also incorporate a built-in CD/DVD player. These additional features allow stereo receivers to function as the heart of a home theater system. Stereo receivers can range in power output from as little as 20 watts to a room-shaking 1,000 watts per channel.

CD Player

• Equally crucial to the performance of a stereo system is the CD player. A CD player works by optically reading the digitized information on the CD and then converting the resulting information into an audio signal. Some high-end CD players provide an optical output that enables the player to be connected to a receiver or amplifier that accepts an optical input. Most CD players offer a sampling rate of 16 bits; a few advanced models offer a 1-bit resolution that's claimed to offer superior sound.

  One of the best ways to evaluate the quality of a CD player is to test it with music that has a lot of subtle sounds, such as piano or guitar. A decent CD player produces a smooth, warm, lifelike sound, while a cheap player sounds tinny.

Speakers

• The vast majority of speakers that can be incorporated into a stereo system have two elements: a woofer to produce bass tones, and a smaller tweeter producing midrange and high-frequency tones. Certain speakers offer two or three woofers to provide greater bass response or handle greater amounts of power.

  Speakers come in many different sizes, from compact models designed to fit on a bookshelf to floor-standing models that are several feet tall. Speakers can be designed to be mounted in a wall so that they provide excellent sound while remaining inconspicuous.

  As a rule, bookshelf speakers offer the least bass response because of their small size. Larger speakers designed to be placed in a living room usually offer better bass response and more accurate sound reproduction.

  As with CD players, speakers should be evaluated using music that has a lot of nuances. Good-quality speakers will accurately reproduce those nuances.