External DAC for Cambridge CXN (V2) and Sony XA 5400 ES

You will be surprised at how competitive the Cambridge sounds especially if you are routing everything through a vintage tube pre. I have compared the CXN to a schiit Iggy running them both into a Primaluna tube preamp and the difference between the 2 was surprisingly subtle. I really feel that DACs in the $1.5-3.5K range pose the worst value in the market right now because there are many DACs well under $1K that come very close to matching their performance and when you then run everything through a tube preamp with a pronounced sound signature / coloration, those minor differences between the DACs become almost irrelevant.

I had the Benchmark DAC 3 in my system for a few weeks on loan (running into a Mastersound tube amp). I have  CXN transport and CXN V2, and when running either into the DAC3 I found that although the DAC3 offered a very slight increase in detail, the stage was very 2D and somewhat boring. Probably technically more linear, but just not engaging to me in my 2 channel system. I really enjoyed the Benchmark with my headphone rig, but it just didn't do it for me in the main system. 

Another option you may want to look into is the Modwright upgrade for the CXN. Very few real world reviews so far, but it looks very interesting in my opinion. 

I have the Sony in my 2 channel system.  It is a refugee from a HT system when I had added an Oppo 203 to replace both my BluRay and SACD player.  In the 2 channel system my DAC is a Bryston DAC3, which has 4 HDMI inputs.  The Sony outputs the DSD from SACD over HDMI.  In the same system I already have an Oppo 105 outputting DSD from SACD into another HDMI input on the DAC, I added the Sony just for laughs.  It sounds almost indistinguishable from the Oppo as a DSD transport.  My recommendation would be get a DAC with HDMI
inputs so that you can enjoy DSD from your SACDs, if you have any.  I also think the Bryston is a better DAC than Benchmark 

arize84... not sure I am onboard with " a tube preamp with a pronounced sound signature / coloration". If every piece of wire, power cord, tube, etc., produces a noticeable difference I’m not at all sure the LS2BMKII would mask differences in DAC performance because it sure doesn’t mask anything else.... but you do have a point on pricing.
displayname62... thanks for your response, soundstage and imaging are very important to me and presently the stage is much wider than the 16 foot wide room and varies from front and center in a club to first few rows depending on source material, station, original recording and such. Tried an ARC LS 17 SE pre and a LS 27 pre and they both had tiny compressed stages and left faster than they came.to try. Thanks for the info on Modwright although I’m reluctant to make irreversible changes to see if I like the results.

mahler123 Thanks for the info on the Bryston and HDMI. I probably have 30 or 40 SACD recordings and that would be important. I would not be surprised to find the Bryston to outperform the Benchmark, although it is a few years older but it is more than double the money, but again, would have to find a way to try before I buy as too much stuff has left here faster than it came. Maybe a local dealer (if there are any left) would have one that could be tried.

Maybe a local dealer (if there are any left) would have one that could be tried.

I would also love to try the Bryston, but dealers are one of their biggest challenges. I think it might be easier to find someone who owns one nearby to host then to find a dealer honestly, depending on where you live of course. 

On the Modwright, I totally get that. It requires quite a leap of faith. The only reason I'm considering (if I can get the funds together next year) would be because several people who's ears I trust have spoken highly of Modwright gear, and the design seems to be aligned with other gear that's stood out to me. 
I'm a sucker for Class A designs. Both my main amp (tube amp) and my headphone amp are class A. Those designs always seem to connect with me. Secondly, this mod makes the unit a dual power supply DAC. I've noticed DACs that leverage a dual linear power supply generally stand out to me as well, tube or solid state. Not that I'm a DAC expert, but that's a trend I've noticed. 
Then you factor in the fact that I almost exclusively use the CXN for streaming Tidal, Spotify and playing CDs. I personally don't have an SACD need, or even an ultra high res file type for now.  Plus Cambridge is on the early list Tidal Connect, which will make Tidal streaming even easier. 
Lastly, there's the price. I think this is where Modwright kept it really competitive. His gear in general tends to hold value very well. I've already had the CXN for awhile, and those are holding value fairly well too. I figured if I got it and didn't like the change I could sell the CXN and mostly just loose out on the shipping and normal CXN depreciation. At the same price point and general functionality is the Lumin D2 and Auralic Altair G1. I think there is good arguments for all 3 units based on needs/priorities, but if I was going to one of those units I think I'd rather go separates with the streamer and DAC. Because I already have the cxn, the barrier of entry is lower with the Modwright mod.  

In your shoes though, getting something that can take DSD directly from HDMI sounds like a key feature, and I think that's a good consideration. Looking forward to seeing which way you go and your thoughts wherever you land.