I have a chance to buy an Alpine 7904 cd player for $40 bux.
What is the difference between this unit and the 7909 ?
Anyone have the spec sheet on this cd player ?

Here's a lil video of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1i9I7KZJgE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBVXPJg8pL0&feature=related

 

The 7909 has a few more feature buttons as I can see on the face.
I just wanna know the difference in sound quality.

 

Only the 7909 came with the high end D/A convertors. The rest of the 790* series aren't worth anything IMO. Really, these days, I don't think the 7909 is worth jack either.

 

So why do they sell for insane amount of money ?

what is worth getting these days then ?

 

There were even different models of 7909, some with 8V preouts, some not (but guys used to mod them years ago).

The sound quality available from old-school technology was stellar in it's day, and with all the whizzy available on decks now, likely you haven't improved on the real reason for a good deck, the quality.

It's like the argument between tube/solid state, or LP vs CD. Each has their own merits, and drawbacks.

For $40 (if it works) you can't go wrong really. I used to have that deck back when I was about 20 (but who can remember exactly after all these years).

 

I am actually using the 7904 at finals this year... i enjoy the INSTANT, clean, volume controll that most decks now don't have. Add to that the simplicity of it for set-up, and the fact that everyone that sees it, has a story about when they owned a similar unit back in the day.

 

Hey
You can always install a digital output and use an outboard D/A. A Soundstream DTA1 would be perfect, Phoenix Gold also made one around the same time if memory serves me correctly. I used to use a 7903 but it was stolen, now I just have a 7800, 7802 and 7909.
I agree with the ease of interface, volume increases at the speed you turn the dial!