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How do I spend $5000? A CD player or DAC for my De

After my fiasco with auditioning McIntosh 871 universal player (which I didn't like at all) I'm now considering either buying a dedicated redbook player instead of Sony XA9000ES and keeping my Denon 3930 for DVDs only or indeed buying a DAC to use with Denon as a transport. I don't think I'm ready to spend more than $5000 for either. The thing is I simply don't know which is better - a dedicated $5000 CD player or Denon 3930 plus $5000 DAC? I'm selling Sony anyway - the rack has place for only 2 sources and of course I need a DVD player anyway. What do you,guys, think?
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antonkk
no_money
638 posts
 
I would dedicate the 5k to a single box solution... That is if everything downstream is up to task.

What is the rest of your system though?
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
Agree with the single-box solution.With 5K to spend,you are in the price-range of the Gamut CD-3,AA Capitole and possibly the DCS P-8 used.
mtdking
157 posts
 
Boy if you can stretch to around $6000 yo can get a Esoteric X-01 used. I think that is one of the very best players made. We know it has the best transport.
ras422
182 posts
 
my vote is for --esoteric xo3se--right at your price point after fully broken in and with the right pwr cord it is a wonderful cdp --good luck --rich
mozartrules
42 posts
 
Transporter modified by Dan Wright (so it becomes a tub DAC).

You get very good DAC as well as an easy introduction to computer audio. I have not heard it, but Srajan Ebaen just gave it a blue moon award on sixmoons.

http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/modwright3/transporter.html

Quote: "this ex owner of Zanden and reviewer of AMR, Ancient Audio, APL Hifi, Audio Aero, Esoteric & Co. would be lying if he didn't call today's silver machine with its weirdly coexisting twin WiFi antennae and three valves their full and unequivocal equal"

Indications are that computer based audio is going to be where the higher resolution - up to 24/192 - will be released. The Modwright will be a wonderful Tube DAC for your Denon in the meantime. At $3600 you could get a computer (Macs are simple and silent, but any will do and it doesn't have to be in the listening room) to run the slimserver software and still stay way below your budget.

I am happy with my switch to computer audio (iMac + Benchmark DAC1) even though I still have a universal player for SACD and the occasional new CD that I want to hear before ripping.
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