Looking to improve CD playback
mesch OP You are correct in thinking this, try to listen to an R2R Holo Spring Level2 or 3 dac, you can switch on the fly between it’s NOS and OS modes. (And it does DSD if your into that stuff.) https://www.stereophile.com/content/holoaudio-spring-kitsun%C3%A9-tuned-edition-level-3-da-processor And R2R Ladder Multibit is the best way to convert 16/44 24/96 or DXD all PCM and CD. Cheers George |
Dan, I am sure your Arcam/DAC combination sounds great. As does my Arcam/DAC. I am just looking to maximize what I am getting from my CD collection. Also thinking now is the time to replace the BDA-1 while it will still provide me ~$700 on the used market, as I believe it remains a very good DAC. It just might be that I reconsider the I2S connection. Auxinput, I was concerned about there not being a standard for the HDMI I2S connection. I will consult with vendors regarding pin use. Given that the I2S input and other upgrades can be installed at a later date by Mirror Audio I am considering the purchase of the basic unit 1st and make decisions on upgrades after getting accustomed to the new DAC. It may be possible that Mirror Audio can configure the pin output to compliment a transport of choice. I will get to an understanding of this prior to making a purchase. Thanks! George, Thanks for your support for my 'subjective' approach. Also the Holo Spring DACs are of interest to me as I have read reviews. Thinking the Tubador may better fit my budget. I am pretty sold on the R2R Multibit approach. Also looking to add tubes to the output stage which will drive my tube preamp. Geoffkait, I will do my best to isolate the transport with consideration of routing internally generated vibrations and shielding from external ones. |
mesch, I have a BDA-1, and it is a fine DAC (I now have mine in my second system). I also have a Bryston BCD-1 CD player. Some years ago before I got into streaming, at the same time that I auditioned the BCD-1, I also auditioned the BDA-1. Both at the dealer and and with a borrowed BDA-1, I experimented with a number of lesser CD players and DVD players, including my own Denon 2910 DVD/SACD universal player hooked up to the BDA-1. It was no contest, even thought the BDA-1 was the technically superior DAC to the similar DAC built into the BCD-1, in terms of SQ, the BCD-1 just simply outperformed any of the combos I compared it to. I came into the shop thinking about buying a good DAC, but wound up buying the BCD-1 instead. When it came to spinning plain vanilla Redbook CD's the BCD-1 with it's rock solid Redbook CD only transport was the clear winner. So the transport really matters. A couple years later after Bluesound integrated streaming from Tidal I picked up both an original Bluesound Node and a BDA-1 to go with it. It was and still is a very good combo, but couldn't quite match the BCD-1. It was only after I started using a Melco N1A as my NAS (effectively as my CD transport) that I was able to approach the BCD-1 level of performance. |
Jazzman, yes the transport matters. I probably should go that route 1st. Always a debate. I am going to take my time with this. Given the quality of the BDA-1, I could purchase a transport 1st. Then swap out the DAC later. Given I have the DV137 I could purchase the DAC 1st and purchase transport later. Seems your experience would suggest the transport should be 1st. |
