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Better cd SQ

Hi All,

I am considering purchasing an external DAC to use with my Marantz CD6006, trying to squeeze all the SQ from my cd's that I can. I like the sound of the CD6006, but feel like there is something better. Good idea or bad? If good, being that I know very little about DAC's, what DAC would you recommend for better SQ. My primary
Source is LP's. But I play a lot of CD's also.

All help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
nic919

nic919
gjohns
90 posts
 

I just purchased a Denefrips Pontus ll. It's still settling in but it's a treat so far. 

Remember this if a CD is not done well it won't make silk out of a sows ear. A good CD sounds wonderful 👍

riccitone
229 posts
 

Forgot to mention a used Weiss Dac would be a great option if you could swing it!

 

jl35
4,045 posts
 

I have the CD6006, also had the 30n SACD...I wouldn't go much above a Denafrips Ares 12-i or Schiit Bifrost 64/2...above that I would get a better CD Player or separate transport and DAC...the Marantz 30n SACD sounds better than the CD6006 if you like the Marantz sound, and also offers streaming...

celtic66
1,674 posts
 

Used price Zeiss DAC 204 would be difficult to beat.  Best of luck on your journey.

mksun
518 posts
 

+1 for the Denafrips Pontus II. I have had mine 3 years and it has performed flawlessly while sounding amazing. IMO, a high quality external DAC is definitely the way to go instead of a new CDP for future upgrades and flexibility. I listen almost exclusively to CDs with occasional streaming. I have both my Bluesound Node 2i streamer and my newly acquired Jays Audio CDT2 MK3 transport plugged into the Pontus II. I highly agree with @baylinor regarding the significant SQ improvement of the Jay’s Audio over my previous transport and the value of upgrading transports if you listen to a lot of CDs.

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