2. digital
  3. 1030974602

CDP upgrade or even swap - what can 2-3K buy?

Audio manufacturers appear to know their market:
comparable price across brands tends to give comparable
listening auditions. (e.g. preamps don't open up and deliver
the goods for me until $2K or higher)

Question 1: What unit(s) will give me audible improvement
over my current digital front end?
>> Muse Model 2 18 bit DAC with SONY DVD as transport
>> ($2.2K new, worth $1K now); current system $11K

Question 2: Will $2-3K buy me better CD listening than it
did in 1996?

Not interested in SACD or DVDA at this time
Thanks for any guidance.
judit
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I like my Shanling CD-T100 a lot. It's $ 2K. Check out the reviews here.

It needs a long burn in, at least 200 hours. It keeps getting better after that. Sounds best with NOS tubes.
alliedtvandsound
74 posts
 
Regarding question 2 --absolutely!!! The new Classe CDP-10 will be available shortly --about $2,000 NEW US$. Even the (just replaced) Classe CDP.3 is a fine CDP that you can find at a great deal due to its replacement.

peter jasz
tireguy
1,964 posts
 
Judit- I do not use a preamp, I run direct from the capitole to the amp(which if you have only one source it frees up the difference-$$- between the capitole and your other options) Regards ~Tim
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