CD Player versu Dedicated Transport

I would assume that using CD3 as a transport is a good idea since it has a very nice transport.

My recommendation for a digital cable would be Virtual Dynamics NiteII(very smooth, well balanced cable) or Master(very lively, lots of dynamic drive, smooth, but superb detail - overall an amazing digital cable and beleive it or not, a big improvement over NiteII). The cable you are using currently is not even close to the ones I just mentioned. NiteII and Master are in their own league.

But let me ask you, Pubul57, have you tried the CD3MkII running it with balanced interconnects into your pre-amp? If you haven't, you're in for a big surprise. At least in my system this was a huge jump in performace. I am wondering if you tried that. This player sounds completely different when run balanced.

Audphile1, I have not tried the ARC CD in balanced mode. The DAC is single-ended, and my CAT pre is as well. For reasons I don't quite understand, I've heard that in the case of the 24MXL DAC it sounds "better" in single-ended (they do make a balanced version).

Pubul57, I guess that's the only option then.
In any case, is there a big difference between the CD3 and the dac?

I am sorry to bring back the source of neurosis to you but I had a bunch of CD players and modded DVD players as transports and they were very enjoyable untill you hear a good dedicated transport in your system, when you do that all your doubts will dissapear, the transport is sooooo much better.

Even Alex agrees an this: (from his site)
"The Denon units need a lot of work in order to make it for a good digital transport which is not cost effective"

http://www.aplhifi.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=431&start=45&sid=819dff3570fc2bff9a4ef5b827a9d070

I find this thread very educational and I read avidly?

Alex maybe you can help us clarify this :-)

All the Best