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Help regarding SACD/CD players

Yes, I still spin the cd's, and I love them. I love shopping for them, organizing and reorganizing them (sometimes on the same day), admiring my organizational skills (and then lamenting my lack of them), and rediscovering that I own this-or-that-cd after almost buying it earlier that day. Consider it an irrational fetish, if you must; insist (to yourself) that I should grow up and join the streaming community; laugh at my growing collection of SACD's, declared all but dead years ago. But, if you have the kind of advice I'm after, please offer away.

I have a modest living room system, powered by a fabulous Luxman receiver from the late 1980's. I play my cd's through an NAD player (which I run through a Schiiit Audio Multibit DAC), and SACD's through a Yamaha BD/DVD/SACD/everything-else player.

Here's my question. Does it make better sense to:

1. Get a really good (within reason, and probably used) SACD/CD player to do all the work? Maybe something from Arcam or Marantz, or something in that general price range? Any suggestions on what I might look for?

2. Keep SACD-ing through the Yamaha, which sounds good, but replace the NAD with a transport (I like the Audiolab 6000CDT better than the Cambridge Audio), and then graduate to a better DAC? I have a whole lot of cd's, and relatively few SACD's, so the priority is with the former.  

3. Come up with some heretofore unthought of option? (Yes, I will likely secure a Bluesound Node 2i at some point, but I'm an inveterate incarnationalist and gotta have my discs, silver and vinyl. Cleaning, holding, admiring; they're like children! I love my babies.)

4. Just shut up and continue to play on what I have? My wife favors this option, though she has yet to learn that it is but one option. 

Thanks,
Tony


 
anton99
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,902 posts
 
anton99

Audition one of the reference Yamaha cd/sacd players for a comparison.
If you feel like more fidelity is required then demo a Marantz reference player. Have fun!


Happy Listening!
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jazzman7
350 posts
 
Tony

How many SACDs do you own?
How many CDs do you own?
Oh, and what is your proposed budget?
My view/advice/opinion on this matter to a very real extent is based on the answers to these questions.


anton99 OP
55 posts
 
To E: It usually depends on the cd. The Impex releases of the Three Blind Mice cd's sound extraordinary through the NAD/Schiit ("Blow Up" is outrageous). They're not SACD, but are probably the best sounding discs I own. Some Verve Master Editions also sound brilliant, as do the Bill Evans 20 bit cd's. The Gerry Mulligan 24/96 is also at the top. All through NAD/Schiit. And geesh, if that Boston remastered CD doesn't punch a hole through my chest and roof when I have the leisure and privacy to turn the volume knob up to 4-and-a-half. Maybe it's because it's really the only "hard rock" I play, and I've forgotten what it feels like listening to that stuff.

I don't run the Yamaha through the DAC. But a few SACD's are amazing, especially from Analogue Productions. (But not the "Chicago II" by MoFi.)

To Jazzman: SACD's, about 20 or so, with plans for more. The Chicago II has been the only one that's disappointed. CD's, about 1500, with more coming in; thanks, all who are getting rid of your cd's.

Budget-wise, I could probable go as high as $1500 for a player, or transport/DAC combo (say, $550 for the Audiolab new and the rest on a used DAC). Wiggle room might be there, and I'm open to suggestions and brands.

My preferred option at this point: Get a transport, upgrade the DAC, then in a few years down the road, possibly upgrade the DAC again. Incremental gains. 

To Jafant: Thanks. I like the looks of the Yamaha, and I have friends who keep telling me to check out their amps.

Advice?
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jazzman7
350 posts
 
Tony

Take your time and be strategic with each addition you make to your system. Have a road map in mind. You don’t have many SACDs at present, but a whole lot of CDs, and you like handling physical media.
You mention the desire to explore streaming down the road, and there I can’t argue the choice of going the Bluesound Node route. But all things being equal, if you have a player that is still functional, I’d start with the DAC. A DAC upgrade will have benefits both immediate and in the future. If you think you might get involved big time with SACDs, then I do recommend that the new DAC be DSD capable; otherwise don’t sweat DSD capability. I happen to have a Chord Qutest and absolutely love it, but there are a whole host of good DACs to be had out there. If you should ever get into SACD big time, then something like the D.BOB (digital breakout box) would be something that I’d recommend adding to your road map.
soix
9,776 posts
 
Since you’re intent on spinning discs I’d invest in a good re-clocker like the Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh and just keep using the NAD as a transport.  If you’ve got the Modi DAC I’d upgrade that first as that’d make the biggest improvement — something like the MHDT Orchid could be a big upgrade just to name one, and they offer a trial period.  I’d keep the SACD player separate, whatever you choose to eventually upgrade to.  Best of luck. 
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