I use the Sony CDP-555ES 300-disc (now 400) changers as transports into my DAC (actually the Lexicon MC-12). I'm very satisfied with the performance, though I'm sure I'm not getting the last ounce of performance. I have a single-CD transport for when I'm "serious", but I just love being able to put on the random play with a wide variety of music in the changer - it's like having my own commercial-free radio station. I've got three of the changers so it's a long time before the "playlist" starts repeating itself. I make copies of each CD so I don't lose access to the original for playing when I'm "serious" or in my car changer, as well as to guard against wear of being mechanically handled by the changer. In any case, I think the Sony ES changers are the way to go. -Kirk
Audiophile Changer: Cool or Hopeless Compromise?
Hello again everyone. It is great to be back to this site. Having owned and sold a Levinson 31 (sounded fine but didn't REALLY do it for me) I am finally going back to analogue and perhaps, a SONY SCD-1.
For general every day listening of my 2-300 CDs, however, it would be wonderfully convenient to have them in a changer. Is anyone taking a digital output from one of these things and running it through an external D/A, for example an ARC DAC-1 or DAC2 with decent results? Which changer transport is the best? CD or DVD/multi? And can someone please explain "upsampling"? In my experience, I have never really been transported by anything digital. I am waiting to be converted but in the mean time, would just love to conveniently enjoy a few hundred CDs without getting a migraine or thinking that reading a magazine or watching cable would be more satisfying. Thanks for you ideas and advice. Happy holidays to everyone.
For general every day listening of my 2-300 CDs, however, it would be wonderfully convenient to have them in a changer. Is anyone taking a digital output from one of these things and running it through an external D/A, for example an ARC DAC-1 or DAC2 with decent results? Which changer transport is the best? CD or DVD/multi? And can someone please explain "upsampling"? In my experience, I have never really been transported by anything digital. I am waiting to be converted but in the mean time, would just love to conveniently enjoy a few hundred CDs without getting a migraine or thinking that reading a magazine or watching cable would be more satisfying. Thanks for you ideas and advice. Happy holidays to everyone.