If you enjoy handling physical media- which I did - and have the space to keep your TT (and outboard phono stage if you have one), lps and cds, stay the course. I ripped my music on to a hard drive in the past year and sold off media and front end gear for downsizing/small footprint system. When you are ready, know the transition takes some time for the music ripping, but is simple. I now also have streaming capability, which I have only done with internet radio. I’ll likely choose the best fit for me among Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal next year when I retire. My music is red book flac, which sounds great. I’ve no interest in hi res, MQA or the future format “advances”. The new technologies will be there any time you are ready to try.
Better CDP or network player?
OK, threw in the towel today folks. I SOOOOOOO appreciate all of the help and advice over the past few days. I took a look at ALL the suggestions, as well as poked around on my own and did a LOT of head scratching.
I was seriously close to buying the Schiit Yggdrasil DAC and I'm pretty certain that it would have been a great choice. Looked at streaming, NAS, players, combo machines, other DAC's, music programs for my PC, etc..............Ultimately it all just seemed like a huge PITA to set up............maybe I'm just getting old and didn't want to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.
Also looked at what's left in the CDP market......short answer is not much unless you are content with a budget machine or don't mind a second mortgage to support your "habit" LOL
In the end I decided to buy and did so, the Marantz SA14s1.....should get it Wednesday. Music Direct has them for $1999, $500 off anybody else, brand new, in the box...........It has a 5 year warranty and my past experience with Marantz is that it will probably be fine for longer than that......I still have a very old CD93 that still works, although it's fussy until it warms up and my current SA 8001 SACD machine....The SA14s1 may outlive me at this point in life :)
My reasoning was that I primarily listen to redbook. I have SACD also, but sound wise it's not hugely better than some of my best redbook. Perhaps the newer hi-rez files are another step up, although I read many reviews that didn't exactly support that argument. The next great thing is ALWAYS better, but sometimes it's really not, just new and different. YMMV.
I figured that I might as well buy one of the last, really good CDP's from a company that's been around since the beginning and still has a very good reputation. I'm sure there are better CDP's out there, but they're getting harder to find every day.
I know what the 14s1 will do, I know what it won't do and I doubt that I'll have reason to regret my decision...............although I really did want that Yggdrasil................maybe next year,
Thanks again for the time and advice, I did learn a lot in the past few days.
I was seriously close to buying the Schiit Yggdrasil DAC and I'm pretty certain that it would have been a great choice. Looked at streaming, NAS, players, combo machines, other DAC's, music programs for my PC, etc..............Ultimately it all just seemed like a huge PITA to set up............maybe I'm just getting old and didn't want to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.
Also looked at what's left in the CDP market......short answer is not much unless you are content with a budget machine or don't mind a second mortgage to support your "habit" LOL
In the end I decided to buy and did so, the Marantz SA14s1.....should get it Wednesday. Music Direct has them for $1999, $500 off anybody else, brand new, in the box...........It has a 5 year warranty and my past experience with Marantz is that it will probably be fine for longer than that......I still have a very old CD93 that still works, although it's fussy until it warms up and my current SA 8001 SACD machine....The SA14s1 may outlive me at this point in life :)
My reasoning was that I primarily listen to redbook. I have SACD also, but sound wise it's not hugely better than some of my best redbook. Perhaps the newer hi-rez files are another step up, although I read many reviews that didn't exactly support that argument. The next great thing is ALWAYS better, but sometimes it's really not, just new and different. YMMV.
I figured that I might as well buy one of the last, really good CDP's from a company that's been around since the beginning and still has a very good reputation. I'm sure there are better CDP's out there, but they're getting harder to find every day.
I know what the 14s1 will do, I know what it won't do and I doubt that I'll have reason to regret my decision...............although I really did want that Yggdrasil................maybe next year,
Thanks again for the time and advice, I did learn a lot in the past few days.