Order of importance

Price is a big issue, and your overall budget on where you expect to go is another issue. For me, I started by buying great speakers. They were a great deal, but it was the most expensive $2000 I ever spent. I had to constantly upgrade to get the most out of them. They became the stronghold--and everything (I mean everything) else was the weak link. In your case it seams simplier--you have good speakers and a good pre-amp. Your source is clearly the weak link. I also used a relatively inexpensive CD player as a transport and bought a good D/A (then a better transport--then a better D/A--then another better transport). So my advice would be: figure out where you want to go with the system--then it's easier to find the path. If you aren't concerned with the "future" formats--buy the best redbook CD player you can afford. I think the dollar value in single box designs is better than 2 box (unless you're like me and want the upgrade path of DAC-transport-DAC-transport) If you are concerned about the "future" formats consider a D/A that is fully upgradeable and then upgrade the transport that will accomodate that (as it becomes available). I know there are no DACs that do SACD (with the possible exception of Accuphase)--but some have the capabilities and will likely become upgradeable if that format really takes off. I have not invested very much in the future formats--I do have an SACD player, but it's not up to par with my CD playback system. It does have promise as being better, but until there's more software--I'm in the wait and see camp.

I'd like to add that I'm not unhappy with the system as is, although I will likely upgrade the CD. I love the Thiels and these are the cornerstone of the system. I have always liked the Thiel sound. I suppose I'm looking at optimizing the system as simply as possible. Getting a new CD or DAC seems to fit the bill. Your suggestions are much appreciated.

My Meridian 508.24 CD player goes great with my CJ pre-amp. You should listen to one. Also, do you have a price range for a player? You could probably pick up the Meridian used for $2000 here on Audiogon, new for maybe $3500.

Eugkim; there is no meaningful order of importance of components, but obviously you have to start somewhere. You say you like the Thiels, and that's an excellent place to start. Looks to me like you're well on your way to an excellent system.

The salesman was giving you HIS opinion, IMHO. But you've definitely got it right. I personally prefer the flexibility of a separate DAC and transport, but you may decide differently, and I don't think you can go wrong either way as long as you stick to good quality components that work in your system. Good Hunting. Craig.

I always love the "order of importance" debate. On several occasions during my life, I sold high-end audio gear, and the advice regarding what component is most important varies from saleman to saleman, and store to store. At one time, I thought that the source components (turntable, CD player, etc.) were the most important, because no downstream component can correct for mediocre signal input. If that logic is valid, then you must also have components in the rest of the audio chain that are good enough to preserve the original signal. That said, the most problematic components in an audio system are the transducers, since converting one form of energy to another introduces all sorts of problems with linearity and distortion. Back in the good old days of turntables, tonearms, and cartridges, the signal produced by the cartridge (a transducer) was also subject to a variety of mechanical bugaboos, including vibration and resonance. Today, since most people have systems based on digital rather than analog sources, there is only one transducer in the system, the speakers. Speakers must be linear, have fairly flat frequency response, and have acceptably low distortion. Most newer preamps and power amps have low to virtually no distortion and are almost ruler flat in their frequency response (at least that's true for solid state models, and the best tube units), so the impact of the amplification units are lesser, relatively speaking, than the source component or speakers. This is a long-winded way of saying that my ranking, by way of importance is: speakers (the only transducer); source component; preamp; and power amp. Let the debate rage....