I believe source first for your system.
I own a Pioneer DV-565A universal player with Trichord Clock 4 and "Never-Connected" digital power supply mods. I wanted to install an LC Audio ZapFilter 2 (a complete and very high quality analog stage) but the 565A chassis was too small, so I went with cap/diode analog stage upgrades. For about $1000 such a player is phenomenal. Mine is dead quiet with impeccable detail retrieval/soundstaging and very non-fatiguing.
Sound Odyssey on 'Gon offers a very similar mod package to the Music Hall CD25 and, I believe, Brice can install the LC audio ZapFilter 2 (he said so by email to me a while back). The Music Hall CD25 has a better transport mechanism than my Pioneer (though its CD only). A Music Hall CD25 with Trichord Clock 4 and 'Never-Connected digital PSU along with an LC Audio ZapFilter 2 would be a fabulous CD player. I have no affiliation with Sound Odyssey, just a great admiration for what these particular parts upgrades will do in an affordable stock CDP to raise it to a very high level. Not all mod packages are the same.
I've owned both tube and ss active preamps from $400 to several thousands and feel that lesser active preamps have too much veiling of detail. If you want to keep your CD player and it has high enough output with short IC run to your preamp, I'd suggest the DIY HiFi Supply Django passive transformer-based linestage with S&B transformer (about $1200 already assembled). I own one and it is absolutely transparent. It will also tell you more about the quality of the other components in your system, which may be good or bad for now but ultimately a very good thing.
Best wishes whatever you choose.
jb
I own a Pioneer DV-565A universal player with Trichord Clock 4 and "Never-Connected" digital power supply mods. I wanted to install an LC Audio ZapFilter 2 (a complete and very high quality analog stage) but the 565A chassis was too small, so I went with cap/diode analog stage upgrades. For about $1000 such a player is phenomenal. Mine is dead quiet with impeccable detail retrieval/soundstaging and very non-fatiguing.
Sound Odyssey on 'Gon offers a very similar mod package to the Music Hall CD25 and, I believe, Brice can install the LC audio ZapFilter 2 (he said so by email to me a while back). The Music Hall CD25 has a better transport mechanism than my Pioneer (though its CD only). A Music Hall CD25 with Trichord Clock 4 and 'Never-Connected digital PSU along with an LC Audio ZapFilter 2 would be a fabulous CD player. I have no affiliation with Sound Odyssey, just a great admiration for what these particular parts upgrades will do in an affordable stock CDP to raise it to a very high level. Not all mod packages are the same.
I've owned both tube and ss active preamps from $400 to several thousands and feel that lesser active preamps have too much veiling of detail. If you want to keep your CD player and it has high enough output with short IC run to your preamp, I'd suggest the DIY HiFi Supply Django passive transformer-based linestage with S&B transformer (about $1200 already assembled). I own one and it is absolutely transparent. It will also tell you more about the quality of the other components in your system, which may be good or bad for now but ultimately a very good thing.
Best wishes whatever you choose.
jb