2. digital
  3. 145821-123970

Confused State of affairs: CD player

Strange that I am caught up in this quandary in this digital streaming age. I currently have an Oppo BDP-95 as my CD player and Blue-Ray video player. It plays through a coax connect to my Auralic Vega G2 DAC with a HDMI connect to my TV with HDMI audio off. The sound seems good through my B&W 800D3 with McIntosh C1100 pre-Amp/ MC1.25KW mono blocks. So I don’t use the Oppo DAC in the current set-up.

I visited the McIntosh dealer today and really liked the MCD600 playing on his set-up. Question to the group here:

Should I be looking to upgrade my Music CD player from the Oppo?
If yes, should I be looking at a transport MCT500 and let the Auralic Vega G2 (DAC) play on like the set-up with the Oppo. This will remove any possibility of playing a SACD through the set-up as the MCT500 (like the Oppo) does not pass on the DSD quality through its coax.
Or should I go in with the MCD600 which has a built-in DAC and connect it to my C1100 and then retain the option of playing a SACD?

Price difference between the options is $2,500 between the MCT500 and MCD600 as I end up having two high quality DACs in my system (3 if I count the Oppo which I will have to retain due to Blue-Ray video).

I do not have the option to demo either of the MCT500 or MCD600 against the Oppo to compare and I listen to CD music around 2 hours a week, so not too much and not too little.

I want to have the best sounding music from my system, so quality comes before any other consideration. Happy to hear views from people who might have heard through any of the above combos.

Thanks,
sudhirgoel

Showing 6 responses by sudhirgoel

sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I already have the Auralic Aries G2 as a streamer and the Leo GX clock to go with the Vega G2 DAC. So I am comfortable I have a very good digital source and DAC combo. I question was mainly about playing CDs. No matter how much other media catches up I find myself spending at least some time with CDs and hence the current quandary.

cd318 - Have you actually heard the Oppo BDP-95 and the McIntosh options to say there is no difference?

mahler123 - I am not intending to change my DAC as it works very well along with the Master Clock. So the CD player is the only one (if at all) that I might consider changing

elizabeth - That's what is the easiest option and my mind is drifting towards that.

dave_b - yes that's what's putting me under pressure to ensure I get the best out of my MC1.25s and 800D3s

sbank - I would like only currently look at my CD player as my streaming set-up is quite nice now.
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
Thanks again all. 

elizabeth - The Marantz SA-10 seems just like the MCD600 with a built-in DAC. Is a CD spinner a CD transport? Sorry I can't make out what the different terms mean.

cd318 - I have decided to take my Oppo BDP-95 to the dealer and test it out there side by side with the MCD600. Thanks for having a strong view on this.

big_greg - So you are saying that the MCD600 will have an audible difference to the Oppo just like you see a difference between the Oppo and the Marantz.

mzkmxcv - Ok and I should know soon. The dealer is insisting the difference will be huge, not just a bit.
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
Thanks all again for spending time on my question and helping me make a decision.

big_greg - Thanks very much and I am also inclined to think similarly

cd318 - Will do as much as possible

elizabeth - No problem at all and sorry for being a novice else I would have figured the language

mcgal - Wow. Thats exactly what I wanted to hear. I buy McIntosh stuff because I have a very friendly dealer, I love the looks and it goes very well with my other equipment

twoleftears - My McIntosh preference is quite clear by now but I appreciate if you think the sound would be better with other brands. Please could you recommend me a specific CD player in each of those brands that you think would perform better than the MCD600. I normally will only buy stuff that have auth dealers in Hong Kong so I can get after sales support for expensive equipment. So thats also a pre-condition.

I have scheduled time with the dealer on Sat and am looking forward to it. Have a good day/ evening all of you wherever you are and enjoy your music.
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
Hi,

I demoed the Esoteric Grandioso K1 and that CD/ SACD player trumps all other players and the Auralic digital stack hands down. The CDs sound so much more fuller than the streaming songs. No comparison at all.

I moved to the Auralic stack from my earlier MacBook source/ Classe SSP-800 DAC. The improvement was dramatic. I first installed the Aries G2, then the Vega G2 and then the Leo GX. The main difference was the detailing on using the Aries & Vega. The Leo made a big difference in the soundstage. The music sounds much larger and you hear far more details.

I would truly recommend you to also add an audiophile CD/ SACD player and hear music through that once in a while. It's awesome. 
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
I bought the Esoteric Grandioso K1 yesterday. There is no competing product to that player. So I am done with it.

The Auralic stack is really very good and I would but the stack all over again if I had too. Looks beautiful and plays superbly. Go for it!
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
I would still go for Auralic. They have made a huge stride forward with the G2s.

thanks for ur wishes
More to discover