CD vs CD/SACD Player – Tube-based or Not


Some of you might have read my previous threads asking for recommendations on CD/SACD player. That was roughly 6 months ago when I first started building my hi-fi system.
Now that I’ve settled on the back end of my system, I’ll finally select my digital source. My system consists of the following:

Harbeth C7-es3 on Sound Anchor (3-posts) speaker stands

Pass Labs XA30.5 – Power amp

Ayre K-1xe - Pre-amp

CD player – a modest 15-year old Philips CD player(the weakest link which I need to upgrade)

I want to get a CD or CD/SACD player that matches my system in terms of synergies, quality and performance. While I’ve done a lot of readings/research, it’s hard to narrow down on my selections before some fundamental questions are answered.

1. CD player vs CD/SACD player: my preference for music are vocal, some pop, classical (symphony, chamber), some rock, blue. I know the selection of musice in SACD is somehow limited.

2. Tube-based vs Solid State CD player: would my system benefit from tube-based CD player since both my pre- and power-amps are solid state? What’s the advantage and disadvantage of tube-based player? What’s the difference in sound?

3. So many choice in my price range (mostly used):

Ayon CD-5, CD-2s

Ayre C-7eMP, Ayre C-5eMP

Audio Research CD-7

BAK 51

Esoteric SA-50, X-05, X 03se, K-07

Luxman D06
SONY 5400ES, Sony 5400ES modified by Modwright (with tube output),

Oppo 95/105 modified by Modwright (with tube output)

4. I want to get a player with solid transport, digital output, balanced output(preferred); dynamic/solid bass, extended treble and most importantly fuller mid-range with great, accurate, lush presentation for vocal recordings.

What’re your recommendations and why? Thanks.
r0817
The oppo's that are not modified hold their value very well. The modified versions depreciate alot and are harder to sell.
I would suggest you listen to the Auralic Vega DAC. I just bought one from Audio Doctor and we compared it with the Meitner MA-1. They were very close to my ears and the Vega was half the price.
I would pick one of the ModWright such as the Sony. Here is the website.

http://www.modwright.com/modifications/sony-xa5400es.php

Chuck
I think the recommendation for an Oppo (I'd go 105 for the Sabre DACs) and a tube-based DAC makes the most sense. An un-modified Oppo will hold it's value *very* well. And by having a separate tube DAC you will be able to enjoy both solid state and tube-based playback with one unit.

Plus the Oppos open up the whole world of streaming playback, Bluray playback, and DVD-Audio playback for you to explore...

-RW-
The external DAC doesn't benefit the Oppo 105 much. BD audio is limited to 48kHz over SPDIF and SACD doesn't output over SPDIF.