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Upgrading the Source.

I've slowly built a two channel system from the time I was 16. First starting with a simple Yamaha/psb combo till now...some 10years later to a SimAudio Moon i-5080, Polk Audio LSi 9 speakers and NAD 541i CDP. The Moon was the last upgrade and thus the NAD 541i, even only a year old, is the weakest link. I've come to the conclusion that small upgrades will cost me more down the road.

I'm an avid reader of UHF magazine and I relate to the importance of source first. What I need is some opinions on possible upgrades. Arcam, Musical Fidelity, Naim, NAD silver, Rotel, Shanling, Linn the list seems endless.

What I can tell you is that I could see myself one day, getting that final Intergrated amp like the SimAudio i-5. Possibly 3 years from now, no earlier then 2. The CDP I need should come up to the standards of the associated gear I'm using now, and also allow for further growth with speakers. I DO however feel this will be my last CD player, untill a higher res formatt like SACD takes off. Perhaps the Shanling S200 with the Chris Johnson upgrade?

I even wonder if higher priced players then the one I have now like the Rotel 1070 are even worth the bother. Again, I'm very happy with the Polk Audio LSi 9 speakers (some of the most underrated speakers on the market, and rightly so from a big market speaker company) I want the jump UP to count. Please help steer me into a narrower path.
lush
ohlala
1,238 posts
 
Warrenh, his CDP is an NAD.

Being your final CDP, I would consider those CDPs you can audition in your system and more importantly in a system that is more and quite revealing without a monetary penalty. The pain of the source-first approach is that the CDP is going to "hide" under your current rig more than an upgraded one. In addition, the differences between CDPs can come across as subtle enough to ignore, but day-in-day-out, those differences become important and become more overt as you upgrade. Kind of obvious, but laying out for you to consider.

Personally, I like my Cary 303-100. Its a very non-offensive CDP due it nice tone and rolled off highs, but has good detail. I believe it is "undervalued" ($3k msrp v. sub $1k used) in the used market because of its replacement, the 303-200, and the 308s. You may not like in your system, though.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Ohala, thanks for the clarification. I misread his post. I'm sure the Cary would sound lovely in my system, but the Audio Aero Prima is the best kept secret in audiodom. Talk about value? The Prima is listed at about $2.5K and sounds, to my ears, better than, or equal to, players costing more than twice the price. If you like the Cary, you'll love the Prima. It's 90% of its' big bother, and that's a $8k plus cdp. peace, warren
lush OP
262 posts
 
Just Curious Warrenh, what parts would you ditch first before the CD player? Have you heard the other mentioned speakers and amp?
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Ohlala corrected me about your Rotel comments. Knowing that, I , wouldn't do a darn thing. Once you seriously upgrade any one of your components, that will begin the audiophoolish world of total system change over. We all suffer from this disorder. I started with an Audio Magic power conditioner. That lead to a complete change of everything (down to ICs and power cords, as well) in my system, and even came full circle to replacing my AM Stealth with an AM Eclipse. Go figure. Enjoy your tunes. A serious upgrade in a cdp will leave you disappointed, unless you're ready to go the whole 9. just a little fwiw....peace, warren
ohlala
1,238 posts
 
Warrenh, I believe the Cary was among the some of the earlier generation of analogue-like CPDs, which rolled off the highs. My understanding is that the AA doesn't have that drawback. I bet its good, and I should note here that for a reason too complex to get in to here, the Cary is the only "high end" player I have heard in my system.
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