Current CD playes and transports

mig007: your responsive post is graciously self-effacing, tho nonetheless, still a bit wrongheaded. let me tell you where i am in this quandry. i own roughly 2000 cd's (and more than 2 1/2x that # of lp's). i currently play my cd's on an accuphase dp-90 into a dc-300 digital pre/dac. both of these products are now outmoded. the dp-90 has been replaced wuth the dc-100, the latter being a top-loading transport that plays sacd's and "redbook" cd's. both the dp-90 and the dp-100 are exceedingly robust, very highend transports that are unequaled in sound quality, IMO. the dp-100 is designed to be mated to the dac-101 or dc-330. both the standalone dac and digital pre/dac are upgradeable via circuit board slots to play dvd-a or virtually any other other 2-channel disc-configured software (as well as dat, mini-disc, etc.). fortunately, my dc-300 is also upgradeable to the upsampling dac in the dc-330 (and dp-75v) and, with circuit board modules, to playback of sacd and dvd-a. i am going to hold onto my cd transport for the nonce and upgrade my pre/dac to current upsampling standards. i may very well purchase the accuphase sacd/cd transport in the future, but not now. (i can't recall the msrp of the dp-100, tho i know the 100/101 combo goes for $28k; the dp-75 was a relative bargain @ $7.5k.) that's becuz i'm not convinced that sacd is going to replace the cd or outduel the dvd-a. sure there are >100 sacd titles out there now. but look at them. >95% are simply re-issues of classical warhorses and 70's/80's rock. why buy yet another version of a disc i already own in multiple lp and cd editions? i am informed by reputable sources that sony will shortly be introducing a <$1500 unit in the usa that'll play sacd, dvd-a and rebook cd. it would be tempting to buy such a unit, simply as a muti-format transport. problem is, the sacd playback doesn't offer a digital out becuz of all the copy-protection paranoia foisted upon us by the big-3 of audio media. so, i'm gonna sit back and wait before i dump another $10k or more into the digital playback side. i don't have a dac paperweight/anchor 'cuz i paid enuf to assure upgradeability. while i'm waiting, i'll continue to enjoy my cd collection and ever treasure the thus-far-unsurpassed music produced on my analouge system. "but that's just my opinion; i could be wrong."

Albert, you can say that again! My favorite Beethoven was 4th symph. recorded in 1934! No CD ever came even close. Yet.

Mig; Sorry if my responses to you and Hwy61 were a bit "abrasive". Interestingly, nobody (including you) seems to want to discuss what your THREAD actually stated, ie why sellers want so much money for their CDPs and DACs. BTW, my DAC already decodes 24/192 and is fully upgradeable to well beyond that if necessary. Of course a CD only transport would be a write-off, but I really believe that CDs will be viable for many more years. And adding a DVD-A player is not a big deal. Cheers. Craig.

Obselete is a very strong word and in the context of this discussion its use is hyperbole. The CD format is no longer the current state of the art, but it's certainly not obselete. However, I don't see that manufacturers will continue to develop and make sonic progress with this format. If the past gives us any direction, I don't believe CDs will mimic vinyl. As the vinyl format was displaced the quality of the equipment dramatically rose. The backward compatibility of the CD format may ease the cross over to the latest and greatest, but it may relegate CDs to an afterthought, similar to AM radio. Which way do YOU think CD is heading -- like vinyl or AM? Enjoy what you have now, but as music lovers we are hostages of a small number of large multi-national entities who, at best, only pay lip service to sound quality.

Good post Hwy61, especially your last sentence-- maybe a bit morose but unfortunately accurate. I have a little different take on the CD vs DVD-A formats though, eg I just see the DVD-A format as an improvement or extension of CD. I have no problem with the idea of a DVD player sitting next to my CD player, and I have no problem with the idea of purchasing DVD-A titles-- if it proves to be worthwhile. I've lived through 78s, 45s, LPs, cassettes, CDs, (and some obscure other formats)-- DVD-A is just another format. Cheers. Craig.