@kalali You can use a CD player as a Dac if it has a digital input and you feed that input from an outboard transport or streamer but the situation you describe is using the CD player as a transport, it spins the disc reads it and sends the info via a digital output to an outboard Dac. And yes there has to be a digital out you cannot send the signal from the analog outputs to a Dac.
Last CD player?
Earlier this year, I bought a Bryston 4BSST2 power amp and a Bryston BP26 pre amp. Recently I purchased a pair of PMC fact 12 speakers. Both produced a marked increase in sound quality.
My source at the moment is a Meridian 588 cd player, which is about 12 years old. The transport was repaired about 2 years ago, and some capacitors replaced. I play only redbook cds, but I may look into downloading hi-rez files later.
I am wondering if buying a new cd player would produce another big improvement in sound quality. My budget is between £5,000 and £10,000. I have read glowing reviews of the Moon 650D and the Esoteric K05x and K03x. The latter is rather at the extreme end of my budget, and I am curious if it is hugely better than the K05x.
I am trying to build a see-me-out system, so durability is important. The gear I bought earlier has a 20-year warranty, which inspires confidence. Esoteric products have a warranty of just 1 year.
I would be grateful for any opinions or suggestions.
Thanks,
Paleo12
My source at the moment is a Meridian 588 cd player, which is about 12 years old. The transport was repaired about 2 years ago, and some capacitors replaced. I play only redbook cds, but I may look into downloading hi-rez files later.
I am wondering if buying a new cd player would produce another big improvement in sound quality. My budget is between £5,000 and £10,000. I have read glowing reviews of the Moon 650D and the Esoteric K05x and K03x. The latter is rather at the extreme end of my budget, and I am curious if it is hugely better than the K05x.
I am trying to build a see-me-out system, so durability is important. The gear I bought earlier has a 20-year warranty, which inspires confidence. Esoteric products have a warranty of just 1 year.
I would be grateful for any opinions or suggestions.
Thanks,
Paleo12
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- 49 posts total
Buying an external DAC gives you more options. You can pair it with a (relatively) cheap transport. Since the CD mechanisms are the part that fails most often, you can just replace the transport as required. You can also stream hi-res files through it. I just upgraded from a Sony S9000ES to an Esoteric DV-50S. For redbook CD I ran the digital out from the Sony into a Teac UD-501 DAC. It came very close to the redbook performance of the Esoteric (SACD however, was not even close). Within your budget range, there are a lot of very high quality DACs to choose from. I would recommend looking at Lampizator DACs. |
Try sampling some new DACs. Finding one that plays nice with the Meridian and other components is key. Perhaps just take the player to an authorized meridian technician for a check up and a fresh dab of lube on moving parts. Sounds like your happy with the new amps. I do believe the PMCs are voiced with bryston amplifiers, unless that changed. One DAC to consider, well within budget http://bryston.com/products/digital_audio/BDA-3.html Just because its a Bryston pairing doesnt mean you will be as happy with it, Im not suggesting that to be so. But its one to look at. |
- 49 posts total