2. digital
  3. 155166-142269

SACD player/streamer with built-in Volume Control

I'm in the process of upgrading my stereo system and I'm wondering if there's such combo without too much sacrifice in terms of sound quality.    Obviously this is rather subjective so perhaps I'll start off with my system.  Previous system comprised:  Apogee Centurus driven by Aragon 2004 and Aragon 24KSP.   Front ends were Meridian 206 CD Player, Meridian 204 FM Tuner, and Linn Majik DS digital streamer.  

So far I've upgraded the speaker to Magnepan 3.7 and power amp to PassLabs X205.5.    I'll probably ditch the FM tuner so the logical next step would be the pre-amp and digital front end.  

IDEALLY I would like to replace the 206 CD Player, Majik DS streamer AND the 24KSP preamp with ONE unit while gaining SACD capability.  So far I've only found Cambridge Audio 851c and Meridian G91A (used) but they're not SACD.     Budgetwise 5k USD max. 
alecela
jdbsi
38 posts
 
The Meridian G91 will not support SACD- be careful with G-series units as the older power supplies can fail.  Meridian moved to a linear power supply that was available as an upgrade and much more reliable.  

If you want to stick with Meridian, the Meridian 818 is an excellent pre-amp, and network audio endpoint, you could also go that way and pair it with a stand-alone universal player (albeit a 2-box solution).  I have the 818, it is nothing short of spectacular.
alecela OP
13 posts
 
Hello jdbsi5, tx for the response.    Indeed I wud be keen to consider Meridian but the 818v3 seem to list well above my budget of USD$5k?   :-)   I think it's in the region of USD$16k?
mahler123
3,310 posts
 
I can’t think of any SACD player with a volume control.  All the one boxers that I am aware of feature CD only
alecela OP
13 posts
 
@mahler123, Tx for that.    In that case, how' bout the combination of Oppo UDP205 as transport + perhaps a lesser model of Meridian 818v3?     Any other DAC, Digital Streamer + PreAmp combo I should think about at say USD$4k budget?   
jdbsi
38 posts
 
@alecela, Yes, this is exactly what I was thinking.  You could go with used 818v1 (one was for sale several months ago asking $2200) and get the Oppo and come well under budget.  

I saw an 818v3 lowest advertised price used was asking in the ballpark of $4750, so indeed V3 will be over budget.  Others are asking a lot more, but obviously not sure they are selling.  818V2 would also be good and pricing falls somewhere in-between.
More to discover