Wadia think about expensive CD Players ?

>>Modern CD players essentially read binary data burnt
>>onto a plastic disc which is then converted to a
>>musical/analogue signal via a DAC adaptor. Most high end
>>players source their laser pickups from mass suppliers
>>(i.e. Rega uses sony, etc). The DAC convertors are
>>pretty standardized too (Burr-Brown etc). So that leaves
>>you with esoteric abstract issues like power supplies,
>>chassis stability, etc.
>>I would advise anyone to certainly choose their pre-
>>amp/power amps and speakers first. Spend most of your
>>money on Speakers. The final item should be the source
>>(CDP)

Hmmmmm.......Hmmmmmm......
I forsee a possible broad-side impact for you! ;-)

Eusmani:
Welcome to Audiogon - I am relatively new here myself. But as one who came into this hobby with exactly the same assumptions as you about there being relatively small differences in digital playback, and placing the highest priority on speakers, let me say loudly and clearly: I WAS WRONG!!! I didn't want to believe it, but the differences in digital sources are profound and more greatly affect how involving the music will be in your hi-fi than any other component. Far, far more than speakers.

But do NOT take my word for it. Go to a good audio shop and throw down the gauntlet. Tell them what you believe and have them try to prove you wrong by doing A/B comparisons with the equipment in their shop. Any good shop will be happy to do this. For example, start with something like an NAD player, then move up the Arcam line until you reach the FMJ CD 33, and then beyond if you like (the Linn Ikemi, for instance, though there are numerous other possibilities). I think you will be very surprised, and your spending priorities will change abruptly.

Well, as much as I think speakers (and the amps used to drive them) are ultimately the most critical part of a system, 2nd only to the room in which they are used, I sure can't buy into minimizing the differences in CD players. But I will agree that amoung many of the best players many of the differences that make them great will not be apparent unless you have the rest of it pinned down. So if you can't hear the differences in digital playback units, the real question is why you don't hear them, not if they exist at all.

By the way, I think your "abstract assumptions" may be my observation realities.

Life can't get better than owning both a Corvette and a turntable.

I wouldn't discount the importance of the CDP. A harsh CDP gets magnified many times over by the amp. Any speaker that masks that is going to lie about everyhting else too.