Replacing TT with CD

If you must replace your turntable with digital (can't imagine why you'd want to), I'd suggest you consider a Sony XA777ES SACD player which does a beautiful job with CDs and gives you SACD capability as a bonus. It's almost as good-sounding as my VPI analogue setup (TNT-l/JMW l0.5/Grado Reference).

I'm also recommending that you keep the table, especially if you have alot of records. Particularily with jazz and classical, many wonderful recordings are simply not available on CD. If you do sell your table, I am confident that you'll regret it in the not-too-distant future.

But, seeing that you are posing this question on the analog forum, is it safe to assume that you want the analog sound? If so, you won't get anywhere near it in a single box CDP. For a modest sum (maybe $700 total), I'd recommend that you investigate the fully modded ART Di/O DAC ($350 new) and the CAL Icon Mk II (around $350 used).

I'm with Gregm- do both!!

Regards
Jim

Kelly, which WTT are you refering to? I've been using a WT Reference with Reference arm for close to 10 years. Have owned Linn, VPI and earlier versions of the WT Classic and have found the Reference to be vastly superior to them all. While there are no doubt better tables and arms out there (for a price)I would never characterize the Reference as "outrageously dark, slow and uninvolving sound." It is easily the best I've owned, and to my ears very musical, but I would be interested in what you would suggest that is reasonably priced, keeping in mind that the Reference is worth about $3000 used. By the way, the CDP-001 and DP-75V are way out of my league (at least until they're several years old and quite depreciated).

cfb, i'm a little confused too, as if anything my WTT (original) was rather lightweight, and it certainly beat any CDP of the time (early 90s) in terms of involvement. The lightweight sound was why I sold it and got my Basis. Maybe a function of the cartridge (I had a Monster AG1000)?

For Saihcc, I think Jimbo's advice is pretty good--unless you're willing to spend a lot of money. Another resonably priced (used), good sounding CDP you could consider is the Audiomecca Keopps, or the YBA. Given what you can get for the WTT (assuming you have an original or the WTT Record Player), you might want to keep it even if you get a CDP. One last possibility is to get a new TT/arm, although if you have a WTT Reference I'd think you'd have a hard time beating it.

Consider the Muse Thalia 9 for a good taste of what a one box player is capable of. I think you may be shocked with the performance of this player. I sold my Basis and picked up the Muse and have no qualms about it.
True, the analog machines (TT) do sound better when done right but some digital can sound very good, much better than some may think.
The Muse is quite musical; here's just a brief evaluation without getting into alot of the audiophile mumbo jumbo: (this is a short list of what I have noted in general) non-fatigueing highs which have an airy extention without harshness or glare, rich timbres with a very deep and wide soundstage. Sure, many contenders claim the same but listen for yourself and I think you will agree in regards the musical integrity of the Muse.
You might want to think about including this player on your short list of one box contenders, it really is a killer all the way around.

Best Regards,
Chris