You probably would have taking it home to compare. I haven’t heard an EAD 7000 in years but local dealer sold EAD and I worked there part time a bit so knew the gear well but it’s been years. I do remember comparing EAD up against Levinson, Wadia, CAL and Classe and felt the EAD held up fairly well but preferred say a CAL Icon II over the EAD Pioneer CD 1000. Again been years but from memory the EAD line was a little on the softer side which was nice especially on poor recordings but felt not as revealing or engaging as others.
Great to hear you got your EAD fixed and wouldn’t be surprised with newer components it sounds better than new. You’ve had it for years and I’m sure it’s become your reference to what digital playback should be which in the end that’s what really matters. Maybe to take it to another level would be look into changing out the fuses with SR Orange or Blues to see what you think and if you’re using a stock power cord look for one made for digital source equipment such as WyWires, Nordost which is what I use just to name a couple; there’s many out there and everyone’s going to have their opinion.
I don’t have a Cambridge 851N but I do have a 851C and the DAC in it is very good and I switched out both fuses to the SR Blues and became a believer on what these fuses can do. Knowing with my own ears the fuses work I still find it hard to believe or understand they make a difference, but they do. I also stopped using the same types of power cords, PC, I use on my preamp, amp and etc. and tried cables made specifically for digital components and was very pleased with that as well. My Cambridge has become a great player with these simple upgrades from a really good player in stock form. The sound has become more refined, relaxed but still engaging if that makes sense. I’d be surprised if your EAD is as open as the Cambridge 851N in stock form but you maybe not prefer it either.
Back to why you’d want to look at a Cambridge 851N; if you want to stream that is one thing, but if you’re very happy with your EAD maybe look into my suggestions but just pick up a streamer like a Bluesound Node 2i or Vault 2i which is what I did, but I run my Vault bypassing it’s DAC into my 851C because it’s night and day superior through the Cambridge. I’m a little late to the streaming game but now that I’m there I haven’t purchased a CD in over a year and seldom play them in my Cambridge as well but only using its DAC with my Vault. I say keep your EAD as it sounds like the fix opened it up from what I recall from years past and just find a streamer to use with. On the fuses they have a money back guarantee so not much to lose but your time. Enjoy.
