CDP or DAC?


I want to get back to playing and enjoying my 500+ cd's!  Been listening 95% of the time to a nice high end turntable $15k+ setup but would also like to have the option of listening to my cd collection to where it sounds at least competitive with my vinyl enjoyment.

I have no interest in streaming just playing cd's.   Does it make more sense to go with a cdp or transport and separate dac?

Budget $5 - $15k.  Thoughts
bobheinatz

Showing 3 responses by jond

@bobheinatz I run an Audio Note Dac-3 Signature, an older mid-90s version, recently upgraded the output caps and it sounds fantastic. The current crop of AN Dacs sound great and for a lot of us the AN's are an end of game Dac they just sound like music.
@ghdprentice You've pretty much hit on why its a crapshoot buying a CD player these days that transport goes and it's a boat anchor.
I posted that comment about CD players and ran out the door so yes if ARC has backup transports that’s good but if they don’t you're basically out of luck. And its good it has digital inputs that greatly enhances the functionality. My comment wasn’t really a dig at ARC the same thing has happened with Wadia they can’t or won’t repair older models due to no parts being available.

Not sure about streamer longevity but I will say I’ve run my streamer, an Auralic Aries Mini, for 5 years pretty much nonstop with no issues, knock on wood.