CDP or DAC?

@jond …

I am sure Audio Research has a huge supply of transports for repair so their customers never become boat anchor owners… it is a reputable company. Also, I actually do not use the transport part, I use it as a DAC. I had a Berkeley Alpha 3 ($22K) in my system for comparison for a couple weeks. The difference in sound was absolutely minuscule in my system, but I preferred the ARC. I have compared CDs to streaming the same content, on my system and there is no difference. CDs as a media will go away and less and less companies will make them. So, buying the CD player for the sound of the DAC is really what you are doing unless it is a transport only. There is no fundamental difference in the media like there is in analog. The CD just has digital files on them. Unless you just like futzing with physical media there is no fundamental benefit.

Hi, 
i head the same issue 2 years a go, CDA or CD player, my approach  was Booth. I've decidem to go for a 2nd Hand cp player unit, and spend most of the money on the best DAC/Streamer I could.

Currently it is easy to find a great CD player that can work has a transports, no the DAC sido that is not só true.

The digital world is currently going in the streaming direction, if that is good or bad, is debatable. For  shore I Will keep buying CDs.

Hoje it help

Fil

Both work equally good just a matter of preference but if budget is a problem just go with the transport and dac because it leaves you with more options and price points.

In the price range up to $15K you can get a excellent sounding digital system with CDT & DAC.  The Pro-Ject audio CDT is an excellent source.  There are a few reference DACs that will compete with your vinyl rig in that price range.  The R2Rs DACs can be something special but just because there is an R2R does not mean anything if not if utilizing a proper design.  In our comparisons the 6SN7 Sabre chip DAC sounds just as good as our DHT R2R DAC , it is a much simpler design but just has a different flavor to the sound.

Happy Listening.

"Unless you just like futzing with physical media there is no fundamental benefit."

Well, I guess I'm old-fashioned and clearly, the "futzing" and the "benefit"
 are in the mind of the beholder! 

I like books-- forget the kindle-- and I like CDs. There's something very reassuring about being able to grab a title from a wall of cds, actually hold it in my hand, read liner notes for the umpteenth time, etc.Maybe there's ritualized aspect I find comforting but I liked analog gauges on my dashboard, way back when and I can't see that in terms of ritual. 
I'd rather wash a carrot and cut it up with a knife than buy a bag of pre-washed, pre-sized, pre-peeled, ready-to-eat "karits".
 
The last thing I want is for my audio system to feel like one more damned computer interface. . .as if they're aren't enough of those that I have to contend with, already.  

Won't be long before we're all born with a keyboard implanted in one arm and a screen in the other. . . gonna have to memorize passwords for all the basic bodily functions... 

I'm in no hurry to go there ! 

To paraphrase the Kinks: "I'm a twenty-first century man but I don't wanna be here".