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New CD player or transport and DAC?

RVT1K

RVT1K

Super Member
So I've been thinking about replacing my very old JVC CD player.

I also currently have a Schiit MODI 3 DAC

I would like to keep things under $500.

Keeping the budget in mind, any thoughts or comments on a CD player vs. a CD transport + Schiit DAC?
 
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You could get a CD player that has coax out and use that as your transport, fed into your DAC. That's what I do.
 
I started out with old, used pioneer players. Several years ago I decided to get a new, mid priced Onkyo player (around $500), thinking that it would surely sound better than what I'd been using. Well, it didn't. I thought about sending it back, but decided to keep it. Fast forward a few years and I started reading (here on AK) about DAC's. Since my Onkyo had coax out, I bought a Modi Multi, hooked it up and was amazed at the difference in sound. I've since bought other (used) players with coax out, and DAC's, and hear that same improvement in sound, when using the DAC's. I can hear a difference (improvement) between the DAC's, but not the players.

Since you already have a DAC, you could probably pick up a used player (with coax) on the cheap, just to see if you like what you hear. I'm betting you will.
 
How about ripping your CD's to digital files, get an inexpensive used laptop or mid-tower case computer, load up JRiver and feed the DAC via USB from the PC?
 
Yamaki said:
How about ripping your CD's to digital files, get an inexpensive used laptop or mid-tower case computer, load up JRiver and feed the DAC via USB from the PC?
Click to expand...

I do have a bunch and play them using a tablet/Bluetooth receiver/DAC. Its been a while but I seem to remember that the tablet USB port needed to be reconfigured every time it was turned on.
 
I had the same decision to make when my Denon 1500II CD player i was using as a transport stopped working. I decided to go with the highly rated Cambridge Cx-C CD Transport. It was in your price range when I bought it. I'm quite pleased with the results. Some older higher end DVD and CD players from Denon and others also have very good transports too....if there still working.
 
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charles 1973 said:
I had the same decision to make when my Denon 1500II CD player i was using as a transport stopped working. I decided to go with the highly rated Cambridge Cx-C CD Transport. It was in your price range when I bought it. I'm quite pleased with the results. Some older higher end DVD and CD players from Denon and others also have very good transports too....if there still working.
Click to expand...
I'm curious if you read the sticky thread about the Denon 1500 II and how to fix it.
 
coonmanx said:
I'm curious if you read the sticky thread about the Denon 1500 II and how to fix it.
Click to expand...

While I didn't read that thread on servicing the 1500II, I was aware some could be fixed. But since I had no plans on using its excellent on board DAC (which took a $1,500 DAC To dethrone) I thought it best to opt for the well regarded dedicated Cambridge Cx-C transport.

While I believe the DAC is more important to CD sound quality, The transport plays a role too. I believe the Cambridge fleshes out a bit more detail then the 1500II did.
 
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IMO, decision factors include:
  • What genre(s) of music do you listen to, and
  • What recording formats are available for those genre(s)?
Are any of the following formats relevant to the music you like?
  • DVD (stereo and 5.1)
  • DVD-Audio (stereo and 5.1)
  • SACD (stereo and 5.1)
  • Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 5.1, plus stereo track, and sometimes additional audio tracks)
  • Pure Audio Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 5.1, plus stereo track, and sometimes additional audio tracks)
  • Ultra HD Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 5.1, plus stereo track, and sometimes additional audio tracks)
  • Hi-res downloads
    • 24bit/192kHz PCM (stereo and 5.1)
    • Hi-res DSD (stereo and 5.1)
Following are just a few examples of resources for hi-res recordings. (FWIW, I often buy Blu-ray and SACD discs from amazon.)
Or, are you only interested in playing CDs?

If you only want to play CDs, any DAC will work.

If you want to play more modern formats, you might need an HDMI DAC, or a universal player with internal DACs. Here’s a thread that discusses the issues associated with external DACs when playing modern hi-res formats: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/how-to-play-sacd-into-a-dac.969841/
 
Thanks for all the input.

I wound up buying a new Cambridge Audio AXC35, my son will be getting the old (1990) JVC XL-V131.

I've only done a little critical listening and am interested in doing an A/B between the analog outputs and the digital out through my DAC.
 
Would there be a problem using a used DVD/Bluray player with coax out to a DAC? They'e super dirt cheap at the moment at thrift stores.

I've never been able to find a used CDD player at the thrifts, but disgarded DVD players abound like weeds on my front lawn [darn it].
 
Severius! said:
Would there be a problem using a used DVD/Bluray player with coax out to a DAC? They'e super dirt cheap at the moment at thrift stores.

I've never been able to find a used CDD player at the thrifts, but disgarded DVD players abound like weeds on my front lawn [darn it].
Click to expand...

No problem at all. I'm using a Denon DBT-3313UDCI universal player. Connected to my TubeMagic D2 DAC (did need a HDMI-to-coax digital splitter because the Denon only has HDMI audio output).
That player also sounds pretty good with its internal DACs by the way.
 
Severius! said:
Would there be a problem using a used DVD/Bluray player with coax out to a DAC? They'e super dirt cheap at the moment at thrift stores.

I've never been able to find a used CDD player at the thrifts, but disgarded DVD players abound like weeds on my front lawn [darn it].
Click to expand...

I suggest caution if you’re considering an external DAC and you intend to play SACD and/or Blu-ray discs. These 2 posts are relevant:

SACD - what do I need to play ?

SACD - what do I need to play ?
 
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