5+ years old $5k player vs. current $2k player

I am in total agreement with Jeffga and Dtc. Based on many comments in the past that a new unit will blow away an old unit , I have tried several new units in the past two years and such is not the case. I think the power supply is a key element to the sound quality and newer chips are more detailed and less musical. I recently ordered the Sony xa5400 which is rated A+ in stereophile. My Anthem CD changer is getting old in the tooth and I use it as a transport to a modified Lite Dac60. The Anthem/Lite combo is more musical, more fleshed out and more dynamic. Even using the Sony as a transport, I still prefer the sound of the Anthem as a transport. Hard to believe but true. I am very dissapointed with the outcome as I like the smooth silent operation of the Sony + the 5 year warranty versus the clunky audible operation of the Anthem. PS, for the Sony lovers I have over 400 hours on it and the clouds have not parted yet. Maybe the latest batch is missing the magic?

There's as many answers as there are combinations. My old Theta David transport completely shamed my current OPPO BDP-83. If it didn't burn through laser transports every few years at a very high price, I would still have it.

for me...newer stuff. mainly due to changes in hi-res playback as well as pc audio.

btw....the psa pwt/pwd (and bridge) rock!

tubegroover...the psa pwd has phase inversion adjustment. as a side note, also has some interesting (to me at least) filters as well.

Tubegroover and others who might be interested in the Octave (as I am): There has been quite some talk about it over at computeraudiophile.com DACs forum. Member bhobba has one (as well as several other well regarded DACs). There are several mentions to it too on other threads in that forum. Seems very interesting.

I am looking forward to Charles1dad views too.