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Best path to upgrade my source

I am a new start up in the stereo world. At present I have an Audible Illusions pre, 200 watt tube mono's, dynaudio 1.3 mk 11'S, and a highly modded marantz cd67se. I would like to upgrade the front end source. I am on a tight budget, and I'm considering either a Benchmark dac1 or Naim cdi or meridian 506. I prefer acoustic, soft jazz, and mild rock and roll. My listening habits revolve around detail and immediacy as my 53 year old ears have heard better. Any suggestions?
optimationman
listener57
730 posts
 
To inexpensively resolve more detail from your CDP (plus, reduce the digital "edge" that limits delicately using volume control to yield a little more immediacy), try the $12.50 Herbiesaudiolab.com Grungebuster2 CD mat.
You'll probably laugh, as I did, to discover such a tiny cost can result in genuine listening upgrade.
This gives you more time to decide on your next hardware upgrade, which is still going to be enhanced by this cheap vibration/resonance control.
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melm
1,082 posts
 
I'm happy with my Lavry DA10. As it has perhaps the most sophisticated reclocking, any old transport will do.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,760 posts
 

I own both the Benchmark DAC-1 and the LiTe DAC Ah and the Benchmark is certainly better, particularly in the smoothness of the treble, but it's pretty damn close, closer than you want to admit if you've paid $995 for the Benchmark.

You couldn't go wrong trying the DAC Ah with the Marantz as a transport and seeing what you think.
capt369
152 posts
 
If querida doesn`t mind me buttin` in for a second, what`s the Dac ah soundstage like?
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