Audiophile Changer: Cool or Hopeless Compromise?

I use the Sony CDP-555ES 300-disc (now 400) changers as transports into my DAC (actually the Lexicon MC-12). I'm very satisfied with the performance, though I'm sure I'm not getting the last ounce of performance. I have a single-CD transport for when I'm "serious", but I just love being able to put on the random play with a wide variety of music in the changer - it's like having my own commercial-free radio station. I've got three of the changers so it's a long time before the "playlist" starts repeating itself. I make copies of each CD so I don't lose access to the original for playing when I'm "serious" or in my car changer, as well as to guard against wear of being mechanically handled by the changer. In any case, I think the Sony ES changers are the way to go. -Kirk

To everyone reading this thread: The Aiwa 5 disc changer that Sugarbrie and I are recommending is sonically equivalent to the Wadia transport, if used with the optical out into a dac with 24 bit sigma delta D/A converters.

This Aiwa "engineering anomaly" is in a COMPLETE DIFFERENT CATEGORY as compared to ANYTHING available by other Japanese manufacturers (remember, the Aiwa sounds as good as the Wadia!). Again, I know that this sounds like an exaggeration, but this is the hard cold truth.

what model number Awia are you talking about and what DAC are you pairing with it? I've been thinking of purchasing the Cambridge Audio D500SE.

I'm still new to this, besides the source, where would an external DAC also help me out?

Hmm ... the word must be getting out. Found a number of Aiwa XC-35Ms and 37Ms for sale in the $120-130 range. Must be some mass retailer lurking around here!

Very interesting info Sugarbrie and Ehider, thanks.

I needed a changer for background music and occasional critical listening so I purchased an Aiwa XC37M. Before they were discontinued, they sold for about $90. Now, if you can find one, they are probably selling at their list price, which is probably around $120. If you get one, it needs to be modified by Stan Warren of Supermods to sound its best. In its stock form, the Aiwa is a so-so (not bad, not great) transport. It is about the equal of my aging Marantz CD94 cd player or Radio Shack CD-3400. The modification by Stan Warren, which costs around $150 elevates the performance, by removing midrange glare and grain and improving the dynamics a little. The Aiwa is a great bargain in that there is nothing near its price range that will challenge it, as far as I know. However, I also have a Parasound CBT2000 belt drive transport which is a better transport than the Aiwa. However, the Parasound listed for $1,600 when new. The Parasound has deeper bass and an overall more "relaxed" and natural sound compared to the Aiwa. My comments need to be qualified in that I have not plugged my Aiwa straight in to any 24 bit sigma converters. I also use an Audio Alchemy DTI Pro with the Aiwa as I have found the Audio Alchemy to improve the sound of any transport I have tried.
I have only tried two 24 bit converters and while they both offered more resolution than my aging 1 bit converters, neither one of them sounded more natural.