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Looking for DAC/CD player solution

I'm a newbie that has recently acquired a pair of Usher BE 718's and will soon acquire either a Musical Fidelity or Bel Canto Integrated amplifier. My cables are budget audiophile, got interconnects for $35 at 60% off and speaker cables at $65, also 60% off.

I will buy a Blu ray player soon, either a Panasonic or the new Oppo.

I would like improvement in sound to:

1. CD music
2. Computer music
3. music and movies from Comcast cable box
4. Will use Netflix Roku box
5. Would like to use Rhapsody's unlimited music availablity for $10-$15 per month (have a very small music collection), and other services such as Pandora.

What do you think i should do?

1. Buy an upscale CD player used
2. Get a mod to a Panasonic or Oppo BD player
3. Use the Panasonic or Oppo and get a DAC

Can i use the DAC to improve Comcast cable TV sound and Roku and or Squeezebox sound?

I don't mind switching the inputs much. I've heard the Valab Nos is a good deal, and how much of an improvement would a Bel Canto or other $500-$700 DAC be (used).

How can i get Rhapsody? (can't use it with Squeezebox)
my computer is brand new, it has an HDMI,USB port, but no firewire.

I want to have good sound that is equivalent to the components that i slready have. What is a transport exactly?

Where else should i spend money (power cord, tube addition, tube based cd player, etc)? Would prefer to buy used and spend no more than $700, unless it provides very good bang for the buck and a marked improvement over what i can get for $700. Thanks!!!
indiesound
danmyers
135 posts
 
"the Benchmark DAC1 Pre may be able to handle all the sources "

Nope - it won't handle the HDMI from the computer or the Blu-Ray player. Indie, it's hard to setup a system w/o knowing how you intend to use the system. For example, you could use your new computer for all source material and feed it to a pre/pro via USB, HDMI. You can do this for MP3, CD, DVD, Blu-Ray!, Netflix, and Rhapsody. If you go that way, you don't need to buy a new DVD player (you still could, but you don't have to). This is why I'm not answering the "what BR player should I buy" buy question. You need to think about how you want to use the system and let us know. To rephrase, you've told us what you want to use it for, but not really how you want to use it. A pre/pro is nice and neat, with lots of digital expansion possibilities. An integrated amp DAC is "messier" and leaves you w/o any central control point so it's likely to just grow more unmanageable over time. Only you really know if you want your system to be elegantly simple or simply complex.

Your turn :)
Post removed 
indiesound OP
24 posts
 
Thanks for your help, Danmyers. Like i said, i am a complete newbie.

Anthem D2 is a surround processor—only plan on listening to 2 channel. The AVM 20 is about $1200 on Audiogon, the D2 is $4200—out of my budget.

I own almost no CD’s and almost no DVDs. I’m actually listening to Comcast’s music stations right now which have awful sound quality.

I plan to use Squeezebox or maybe Sonos (which is more expensive at $800), a device that has free internet radio stations, Pandora and will let you use Rhapsody. I read on its forums that a DAC will improve sound quality which is rather awful straight from the Internet—definitely not using the potential of my new Ushers.

Also plan to see a lot of movies using Roku box and would like to improve sound quality of Comcast stuff, from movies to TV and even music.

Can you recommend a DAC or pre/pro and amp combo or integrated amp for around 2K to 2.5K (total expenditures) (all used here on the ‘gon obviously)

Would like to use the potential of my new Ushers—with sound quality about as good as it would sound with a Musical Fidelity A5.

What about the Benchmark DAC1 Pre? Will this be as good in sound quality as the MF A5? I don’t really care about the HDMI from the computer or Blu ray, I’ll just use component and audio outs or digital outs. For the computer I would use USB or buy a USB to analog or digital converter. Or how about the MF A5 and a benchmark or bel canto DAC?

The $35 dvd/cdp will be returned when I get a Blu ray player, so I will have a better DVD, CD and blu ray player anyway. Looking at the Oppo which should be released in Feb/March. Will be watching DVD’s using Netflix, as well as Blu rays. And do plan to buy cd’s as I discover what I like.

Thanks.
indiesound OP
24 posts
 
Have also heard that if i use coaxial or optical cables that there is little to no degradation, as compared with speaker cable and interconnects. And that excellent optical cables are significantly cheaper, is this true?

Would like to save as much as possible, although i am willing to invest to a higher priced speaker cable and interconnect (again, willing to switch them around) to ensure that no major degradation occurs.

Thanks again.
chadlesko
94 posts
 
Indiesound

I think your A5 is a good idea...I owned one for several years and now have the Ushers you are attempting to drive...though I have not heard them together! But I would feel comfortable saying the two will work well together. I do not recall that the A5 has an Optical IN, therefore you would need a DAC (look into that).

If I were you I would look to get a DAC that could handle all of your sources without changing wires...PS Audio, Bel Canto and Benchmark are all nice choices...find out which one will accept most of your intended sources. That's why a Pre/Pro (Anthem/Arcam) are good choices...they can handle many sources and have internal DAC's that might not be as good as a stand alone DAC, but are very nice.

Given the number of sources you wish to listen to you can't really go wrong with a DAC, whereby a DVD/CD/Blue Ray player only addresses 1 source when you listen to many others.

If you are going to get a Squeezebox down the road you might want to look into their Transporter unit that might be able to have other sources plugged into it to act as a DAC (not sure).

Cheers
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