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Network Transport vs. CD Transport

So I decided to conduct an experiment. I pulled the old Marantz cd player circa 1999, around $400 retail, from storage along with few CDs. Using a coax digital cable with a $4.97 rca to bnc adapter from amazon, I sat down to listen. I played the CD, the ripped version (AIFF) of that CD, and a Qobuz redbook version thru my zmac Mini. Long story short...the reason why I did it was because there is something missing in the Mac Mini sound quality and I got tired of trying to figure out what the heck is going on. 
Anyways, that old cd player used as a transport into the Qutest DAC sounds considerably better  than the Mac Mini that right now I will need a few days break before I can can listen to the Mac again. I figured (assumed) that a dedicated network transport will pretty much better the Mac Mini and be comparable or better than what I heard with Marantz player as transport. Eyeing Auralic G1, Lumin D2 and Lumin U1 Mini as candidates (I need wifi capability), will any of these be comparable or better than let’s say a decent CD transport feeding the Chord Qutest? For example a Cambridge CXC, or a used high end player?
I can go back to spinning CDs, but figured I don’t want to give up on streaming just yet.
What are your thoughts - Auralic G1, Lumin D2, Lumin U1 Mini, or a dedicated CD transport for high quality playback. Forget convenience, let’s talk purely sound quality...thanks!

System:
Rogue RP-1, Rogue ST-100, Martin Logan Montis, Chord Qutest dac. 
128x128audphile1
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
will any of these be comparable or better than let’s say a decent CD transport feeding the Chord Qutest? For example a Cambridge CXC, or a used high end player?

Depends, what model was the Marantz you used as a transport, there were good and bad CD players from Marantz in that era.
The Cambridge CXC is a very good transport for the money, but you can get a "little better" but it will cost at least 3 x the price

And let me say, I’ve yet to hear a streamer playing a copy of the same CD version/pressing of an artist, better a "good CD transport", both played through the same dac on my system, just like your finding now.


I did it was because there is something missing.
I got tired of trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
Many I know sold their CD collection for streaming, and have gone through the expense of trying to make it sound better. Then dropped just out of audio because they couldn’t go back.


Cheers George
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
4,919 posts
 
George...Marantz CD6000 Original SE. 
Your answer is what I was afraid of. Luckily I still have all my CDs in boxes up in the attic. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Luckily I still have all my CDs in boxes up in the attic.
You are either very smart or lucky, many sold them and are now cutting their throats, or giving up on hiend audio.

Marantz CD6000 Original SE
Should be "ok" and uses the Sony KSS213, the other model CD6000's used the better Philips VAM1201 but I’d would say the CXC would be quite a bit better than both, I taken oscilloscope pics of the output of the CXC wave form, and even Lampizator was impressed, very little jitter, and a well formed wave form with not much rounding or distortion, I’ve posted these up you’ll have to search Audiogon’s digital forum for them

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Here’s reviews on the Cambridge CXC Transport
https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/cambridge_cxc_e.html
https://www.whathifi.com/au/cambridge-audio/cxc/review
https://www.audiotrends.com.au/cambridge-audio-cxc-v2-cd-transport-lunar-grey.html
In Australia we can get them for as low as $600aud, that about $380usd.
There’s a mk2 out, but I believe it’s the same just cosmetic differences.

Cheers George
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