I'm using an Oppo 980 DVD player. I am not using the
internal DAC's but an external Scott-Nixon Tube DAC.
If I were you before I actually changed anything I would experiment with some different Cable between the NAD and your Haydn's. NAD gear has a tendency to sound a little on the soft side on the top end where you may be hearing the hardness. That's why I suspect cable first. Silver cables may not be your friend here. It could be your current CD player or it's cables too. If you are already using some pretty good cables that are not normally bright
or edgy then try a Scott Nixon tube DAC. I'm sure the edginess will disappear. But the Oppo and the Scott Nixon DAC is an awesome combination. I have tried to listen to it both ways and I keep coming back to the Scott Nixon DAC. I tried several other DVD SACD/DVDA players from Sony, Pioneer, Marantz,and Phillips and all of them sounded much better w the DAC than without. These were all budget players all below $500.
I have a friend that has two of the Scott Nixon DACs and he is using a more expensive Denon and a JVC unit both play SACD's and DVD A's. His systems are very musical.
Understand that if you do purchase the DAC you may not be able to listen to SACD or DVD A disc. And your volume on the remote may not function either. And last if you decide to purchase an Oppo DO NOT
download the firmware updates and install them.
internal DAC's but an external Scott-Nixon Tube DAC.
If I were you before I actually changed anything I would experiment with some different Cable between the NAD and your Haydn's. NAD gear has a tendency to sound a little on the soft side on the top end where you may be hearing the hardness. That's why I suspect cable first. Silver cables may not be your friend here. It could be your current CD player or it's cables too. If you are already using some pretty good cables that are not normally bright
or edgy then try a Scott Nixon tube DAC. I'm sure the edginess will disappear. But the Oppo and the Scott Nixon DAC is an awesome combination. I have tried to listen to it both ways and I keep coming back to the Scott Nixon DAC. I tried several other DVD SACD/DVDA players from Sony, Pioneer, Marantz,and Phillips and all of them sounded much better w the DAC than without. These were all budget players all below $500.
I have a friend that has two of the Scott Nixon DACs and he is using a more expensive Denon and a JVC unit both play SACD's and DVD A's. His systems are very musical.
Understand that if you do purchase the DAC you may not be able to listen to SACD or DVD A disc. And your volume on the remote may not function either. And last if you decide to purchase an Oppo DO NOT
download the firmware updates and install them.