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Need New CD Player or new DAC

I need a new cd player. Been looking at the forum and the threads are all pretty old. I have a couple right now. I have a Marantz 6005, an old Calfornia Audio cd player and a Sony DVD player with the drop down face. Also a Pioneer cd recorder. I also have a Emotiva DAC XD-2. Using the Marantz right now but thought I would see if there is a more musical cd player. Been listening to a lot of vinyl lately and like that analog sound. Should I switch cd players or get a better DAC or keep what I got because there won't be that much difference. Any help would be much appreciated.
128x128dylanfan
austinbob
235 posts
 
I owned and really liked the NAD M51 DAC and I've seen them on Audiogon for around your budget. It will also allow you to play SACD although it converts to PCM (and very well). I think it's a very musical DAC that you would enjoy.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
No, Dylanfan, I don't own the Jolida Glass DAC. I've owned Jolida gear in the past and liked their tube sound. So I'm only going by positive user reviews and the affordable price.

Austinbob brings up a good point; some DACs will not play SACD resolution.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Dylanfan,

I just remembered that it in some other threads about getting the best sound from your Klipsch. Horn speakers can be very difficult to deal with when it comes to high frequencies. You may be asking too much of your CD player.

Here's a different option that I think will work better then just a new CD player. Use one of the players you have now as a transport. Go digital from your transport to a Behringer DEQ2496 digital EQ. You're probably going to need something like that to make digital listenable. If you go with just a CD player, its like buying an EQ with just 1 setting, so you might as well get one. Then go digital from the EQ to a to a dac. The Behringer sells for about $300-350, and you should be able to pick up a nice dac with whatever is left over. There's plenty of good sounding dacs in the $600-400 range.
dylanfan's avatar
dylanfan OP
139 posts
 
I read the Behringer has problems with overheating. Seems to be a common problem or I would have bought one already. Will consider again. What DAC in the 600.00 range do you recommend?
mesch
3,481 posts
 
Dylanfan, sounds like a DAC with a tube based output may best suit your taste. I have not heard the Jolida however have the Jolida Fusion pre and enjoy it very much. There are other Tube DACs available but having not heard them I can’t make recommendation.

I use a Bryston BDA-1 as my DAC. Very detailed however some may think it to analytical. Sounds great to me feeding the Jolida Fusion (all tube) pre. The Bryston DACs have very good power supplies and and output stages. My speakers have a very smooth top end. I am 66, my ears have a rolled off top end.

Good luck in your search.
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