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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
anton99 OP
55 posts
 
B—

I'd lovelovelove a Luxman player. Luxman knows it, though, and is willing to hold out on their pricing and charge me a fortune, one I don't have.

I do worry about a used player, which is why I wonder if getting a really good DAC makes better sense? Use whatever player I have or get in the future as a transport, then.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,420 posts
 
@anton99,
I agree with jazzman7 that you should get a DAC with DSD capabilities. While the D.BOB is a option for extracting DSD files, I think the better way to do is to snag a cheap Sony player from the ebay and rip all your SACDs into DSD files. A month back I ripped all my 140+ SACDs to DSD files. Did not realize that I had collected so many SACDs - I was thinking I had less than 50 :-)
But then you can just use the existing CD player as a transport for the new DAC and have a Network streamer to store and play your DSD files through the DAC.
elevick
2,638 posts
 
I agree with Jazzman.  Go for a DAC first.  You can use the Yamaha as both SACD and digital out to the DAC.  If you go hard core on SACDs then upgrade later.  A single player should make your wife happy with the "mess".
I have a 105 for SACD/DVD-A and use the digital outputs to my Chord Hugo.  The Chord is a huge improvement on CD's and 2 track from hybrid SACDs.  It'a actually really simple to use one player to two inputs on your pre-amp.  
You need to try the Yamaha to your Schiit already.  I'll bet the NAD starts collecting dust (not because it's bad, just because it's not necessary).
anton99 OP
55 posts
 
The Yamaha is more of any entry level unit, not one of the big boys. I will try it, though.

I was actually looking at an SACD/CD player of theirs. Built like a tank, weighs 33 pounds, looks really cool. Goes for $1800 new, available for less at a bunch of places.

richmos
127 posts
 
You can acquire a Marantz SA15se SACD player for around $1000. I too love CD's and SACD's and the Marantz I have plays both beautifully.
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