2. digital
  3. 1217363238

Oppo 980 or Sony 9100ES or Denon 3910 as transport

I have searched the archives and systems for an opinions, but am still asking for more information. I have a Jolida 100A and since I bought a PS Audio Digital Link III, I have been using the Jolida as a transport. Its a waste, really, because it bypasses the tubes. I am looking to sell the Jolida and either use my Oppo 980 or a different transport. I perceived a difference going from the Oppo to the Jolida, subtle but real. I am intrigued by the Sony 9100ES and the Denon 3910. Both around $400 used here on Audiogon. Both are solid and well-built. I don't know which of the three is more reliable and which has the lowest jitter through the coax digital output. For those of you with the any of the three units used solely as transports, have you found them satisfying? Which DAC have you used them with? Any operational quirks or problems? Any other transports going through a DL III that you love? DVD-A is a non-issue, but I do play SACD, currently through the HDMI of my Onkyo, but can use 5.1 analog out of the player. I want to find the Jolida a nice home and find a transport with low jitter and tank-like reliability. Any thoughts?
tgrisham
tgrisham OP
1,291 posts
 
Ekobeshy, thanks for your thoughtful reply. Much of what you say makes sense. When you think of a dedicated SACD/CD player as a transport, which ones do you think of?
ekobesky
259 posts
 
On the high end -- I would think any of the single-disc players from Marantz, and especially the Marantz Reference Series, would be good. If you can swing a used Sony SCD-777ES, that would be a nice buy as well but even used that's big bucks. The McIntosh MCD201 can be had used in the $2k range and it it's built like, well, a McIntosh. It will last and be supported for many, many years to come.

On the more reasonable end -- The current Marantz SA8001 is a great machine and sounds excellent with Red Book and SACD right from the analog outputs. Street price is around $800 and it comes with a 3-year warranty. Used ones go for around $600. I might avoid the previous model though, the SA8260, which over time reportedly developed problems reading certain discs (though it still sounds very good). Anything in the Marantz Reference Series is plenty sweet, too. New models start at $2k but I've seen used ones in the $1000 range.

As far as dark horses go -- You might also look for a used Music Hall Maverick -- one of the forgotten (and therefore, undervalued) players. Originally sold for over $1,500, used ones now go for about 1/3rd of that. Even has an upsampling DAC!
tgrisham OP
1,291 posts
 
Ekobesky, Thanks much for the info. The hunt continues!
Post removed 
Post removed 
More to discover