Tube DAC or new CD player?

Hi

Once you go to separates you will never go back. A stand alone transport is better, But adding a good DAC like the perpetual tech to your unit will also give you 96Khz upsampling.

mike

I have owned a Cal Sigma.
I currently have 2 Micromega Dacs (2 diff systems).
The Micromega's are smoother and have more "body".
The Cal Sigma had a tiny bit more "air" and a slightly larger soundstage but was not the smoothest dac I have owned. I think the tube does very little.
A tube preamp does more.
The Bel Canto I owned is a little better (more detail, a little more refinement) than the Sigma but not as smooth as the Micromega.
If you want smoothness, try a Micromega. If want this level of smoothness with more detail, try Theta Gen Va but you are going way over your budget.
I have seen Micromegas selling for $300 or less.

I use a Kora Hermes DAC with a Theta Pearl transport and love the combo. The Hermes replaced a Bel Canto DAC 1.1 which wasn't quite working in my bright room. It uses two 6922 tubes, and with a little tube rolling you can get the sound just the way you want it. I believe there are a couple up for sale on Audiogon.

all can be very simple:
you can get musical fidelity x- tube interface between the cd-player and preamp which will take care of brightness and edginess for a-bit above $100 for used.

I have a Sigma 1 for sale $260.