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CD Player or Transport

I previously owned a Sony SCD-1, but sold it because it was taking up too much space and the location I had it in was a pain for a player that loads from the top.  I own about 300 CDs and miss playing them.  I started to upload them to my computer, but it was taking too much time and I abandoned the project.  

I recently purchased a Sim Audio Moon ACE.  I am considering buying a CD player or a transport to play my CDs. I would like to keep the purchase under $1000.  My question is- am I better off putting all of my funds into a transport and using the DAC in the ACE or does it make sense to just buy a CD player?  I am pretty happy with the sound quality I get streaming through the ACE, so I am leaning towards a transport, but wanted to throw it out there to see if there are any pros to a CD player that I might be missing. Would also appreciate any suggestions within my price point.

Thanks
durangowill
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Many great R2R ladder discrete dacs around these days, just go a good CD transport, and get one of these dac's (make sure it's got volume control) as one day you'll find better sound by going direct dac to poweramp.

Cheers George 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,635 posts
 
George means YOU, MIGHT get better sound direct. Obviously transport if you like your DAC, player if you find one you like better.
Either way keep an upgrade path open.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,765 posts
 
I owned two of Simaudio's external DACs, two of their amps and a CD player and every piece was a joy to use and to listen to. I would assume the DAC inside the ACE is a good one. If I had an ACE, adding a good transport like the Cambridge CXC for $600 would seem to be a reasonable way to go.
grinnell
1,116 posts
 
I went with a used MHDT DAC and a new CDP (bought first).  Should have just gone with a transport  but couldn't see that far ahead
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