cd player or computer with dac


i have put together a system which consists of the dartzeel cht8550 integrated,ascendo system f speakers with the arcam cd17 but i know the cd player is the weak link i shall be grateful if some one could help me decide the source and cables for the same and does a source really make the difference
128x128jasbirnandra
I went contrary to the usual progression, giving up a DAC in favor of a dedicated CD player. I did it for synergy and got it in spades. Now it is BAT tube CD player to BAT tube preamp to BAT solid state amp.

Conventional wisdom is computer source to DAC. But some guys aren't techie and some guys prefer the ritual of manual media and some guys like to hear a whole "album" and not just one song. So, it is a matter of personal preference measured against your subjective goals.
The MPS-3 mentioned by Jasbirnandra gives him the flexibility of multiple digital sources. It's a "world class CD transport combined with a discrete dual differential DAC that can also receive a variety of external digital sources, including computer based music servers". That, and "future-proofed" with native support for 24/384kHz, and DSD up to 6.1MHz.

Jasbirnandra,
I spent more than an hour with one of the PD - Dartzeel - EA systems.
Difficult for me to describe, except to say that I agree with the assessment of sonic signature found in this article reviewing the MPS-5.

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue46/playback_designs.htm

Good luck.
i don't think there is a definitive answer.

you should audition as many components as you can.

i am partial to tubes, yet i also own a ps audio powerwave transport and dac. there is something to be said for listening to a cd when it is not spinning.

my reference digital source is an old audionote cd player with a 12au7 output stage.
thank you every body who are so cooperative in helping me put a source together i appreciate every audiogoners support for their opinion