What transport for my Birdland DAC?

Audioengr,
Okay, thank you for the post but, this is at least the third time I have seen you post with a cryptic, "nothing can beat this whatever modded".
What gives man? Are you promoting your own mods or others?
Please come forward with the details, or give it up man. If you have constructive suggestions I for one would like to hear them. The point is, call it out, or stop wasting post space.

Hello,
I've got a Birdland Odeon-Ag with the reclocker, too. Here's what I got running into it:
1) Sony CDP-CX400 jukebox via TOSLink
2) Theta Data II Universal LD/CD transport via coax RCA
3) Berendsen CDP-1 via BNC.

(I have to swap the adapter from RCA to BNC to switch between the Theta and the Berendsen)

Here's the straight dope. They all sound great, but the old Theta wins hands down. Even though it's 10 years old and needs a laser replacement (it's starting to reject some discs that it used to play), it's the clear winner. When I comparison swap between transports, it is with the Theta that I find myself tapping my feet and forgetting to do the next swap. I see there's a Jade out there for $1200 obo. See if you can get it for a grand. (If I don't get if first).
How do you like your Odeon-Ag, by the way? I love mine.

Cheers.

Tom

Tjkaudio,
I like the Birdland very much. I especially like using it straight into the main amp of the Nad C370. This is startlingly clear and I have not missed the dynamics that others have cited as lost in this mode. Of course the Nad has a less then stellar pre ( or so I have been told) and if I had a superb preamp to compare then we could see. Works out great here though.
The reason I wanted a new trans was I didn't feel that I was getting the most from the dac using the Nad 321i as trans. However now I find after installing Audio Points that I may need a new amp first. Of course I need both.
Cec is a little too pricey I think but I have also decided to look at the Theta transports. Good price point and well reccomended. Thanks for the input guys!
Scott

Abbeydog,

Sorry to steal your thread w/ this digression but I have been equally peeved w/ "audioengr" making 1-line recommendations & then exiting w/o providing any explanations! I have noticed this on AA & A'gon now for a long, long time. I have to admit, Audioengr doesn't do this 100% of the time but he does it enough times that one notices & gets annoyed.

Many here might or might not visiting Audioasylum so for those of you who do not know, "audioengr" = Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio in OR. Over on AA, the moniker "audioengr" has a (M) beside it so it is easy to see the identity BUT over here on Audiogon, the schmuck doesn't write any disclaimers about his being the owner/proprietor of Empirical Audio, which I think is unethical as I feel that all of us users would like to know this fact. Also, if you have followed any of the cable discussions on Cable Asylum in year 2003, you'll note that Steve made a # of remarks w/o substantiating them (what a surprise!) & many times got run out of the room.
I was poking around & found this article on the Sony DVP7700 that Audioengr recommends so heavily over on AA & even here:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue13/empiricalmods.htm
In the end, Audioengr's products & work might be good but I am completely turned off by the guy & the way he chooses to operate. I read that Abbeydog was bristling too & thought that this might be an opportune moment to highlight some info re. Audioengr. Once again, sorry to steal your thread Abbeydog.
Audioengr: I hope that you mend your ways & operate more in a full-disclosure mode. All of us here would appreciate that. I also hope that you will stop making empty recommendations. Otherwise, I agree with Abbeydog, be gone!

I try not to duck in and out. I'm just really busy doing mods, so I cannot always follow-up.

Modders have the opportunity to compare lots of different DAC's and players, much more than the average person, so I just wanted to share that this is a great DAC stock and even better modded. However, because it has potted analog section, this cannot be improved and therefore will never compete with the best DAC's for HF extension and dynamics. It is a very good value and relatively cheap to mod compared to it's competition. Most of what is in the DAC design is executed very well.