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Transport and DAC or Upgrade CDP?

I'll admit to being a total newbie when it comes to anything more advanced than comparing standalone CDPs in my system. I'm currently using a Music Hall CD25.2 and also have a Cambridge 540D (v1) sitting idle.

Comparing the two in my system leaves me with these impressions: CD25.2 is more open, detailed and gives a wider sense of space, but is a bit cold and lacks analog warmth. 540D is warm, but it's not even close to the same level of performance as CD25.2.

In order to get to a better performance level I'm considering either selling both and moving to a better CDP (Jolida 100a maybe?), or using the 540D as a transport with a tube DAC. I'm looking at the TAD TACs most closely (TADAC and TDAC), but open to other suggestions as I know very little about them.

So...my question is...what's the consensus as to the better approach? Adding digital music is a consideration for down the road, but not top priority now. I really have no idea how to evaluate transports, and buying a whole bunch of gear for trial is out of the question.
meskandar
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
new DAC.
danlib1
819 posts
 
Considered a Mac Mini, with AIFF files, out to a good DAC? Don't mean to throw you a curve here, but that is quite the transport to DAC setup for not much money. Surprised me- and I've owned Exemplar, Resolution Audio, Ayre, Electrocompanient and Marantz players that were extremely good.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 

Well now you’ve gone and done it!

Single or multi box solution.

As I saw recently posted here on another thread as an answer… Yes.

Multi box = multi stuff. Basically more wires and shelf spaces are needed.

Single box? Well you have just opened the door a crack now, as you already have two of those.

I’d say DAC as well, despite the addition of more wires and space usage.

If so then, one with great jitter elimination and several common interfaces. And I’d use it with my most revelatory CDP on hand.

A tube DAC might not be necessary too to gain you that fluffier presentation. Deleting a load of jitter will aid you towards that promise.

I’d address warming or filtering things downstream… and NOT with the source. Ever.

Lavry DA10 was a very musical DAC and not too too expensive as DACs go. I’m sure if you check out the archived threads here on such a subject you’ll gain more choices.
larry_s
128 posts
 
"Best to get in front of the curve and consider a oppo 83SE. The developing format for audio is blu-ray."

Yes, hot on the heels of the success of DVD-A and SACD. (Classical SACD is a marginal success.)

I read that the Oppo is a nice sounding unit for the current audio formats, but I wouldn't buy it anticipating the success of BD audio discs. There will be plenty of time to pick a BD player when/if BD audio comes to life. And then you'll probably get 3D BD thrown in and maybe same performance at a cheaper price.
meskandar OP
20 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses. To start it seems to make sense to add a DAC, which would only help going to digital music down the road.

So, for now, how do I evaluate my two CDPs as transports? I could just say the 25.2 is better because it's more expensive, but I have heard 540D is quite good. Also, how much is it really going to matter? Funds aren't unlimited and CD25.2 will surely fetch me more (one will be sold).
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