DAC or new player ?

What is your present player?

In this situation, my choice would depend on whether I eventually wanted to go for a computer-based source or not. If not, I would save for a better Redbook player, the Cambridge for example. If I did want a computer as my transport and music library, I would get an external DAC with USB or Firewire, and use it with the Sony and S/PDIF for now.

I've heard the Cambridge 840 and preferred my present transport/DAC's sound although the 840 was impressive. However a good dedicated transport is hard to find for little money.

Konky, check my system and you'll see what I'm using. Yes there are some really expensive DACs around--some expensive transports too--but never mind them. Lots of folks are very happy at the $1K level, less if you buy second-hand. I'm thinking of Apogee, Benchmark, Bel Canto. Tweak them with an isolation transformer or battery power, antivibration footers and a premium digital cable 1.5 meters long... see what you get.

A good transport at that price level is a bit harder to find. Some like TEAC VRDS, some like the Pioneer stable platter mechanism, some like CEC. For $500 - $1K you would have to buy used, and they are likely to be older units.

Dokosan, thank you for the kind word. I didn't audition the Benchmark before choosing the Apogee because I was replacing an older and much-enjoyed Apogee model, the DA-1000E-20. As you very likely know, there are reviews on the Net but I've found only one head-to-head listening comparison of Mini-DAC and Benchmark and it's in a link on the Apogee site. So many people would like to have another one available that for purely altruistic reasons ;) I am tempted to do it myself.

Ahaju, I am sure I must be right--thank you--but I did not say it was nonsense to buy a dedicated CD player. I have not compared my setup with an equivalently-priced CD player of recent design (I would be interested in the latest TOTL Shanling, for example). Nor have I subbed my computer into my system to compare it with my transport. So I can't say which setup produces the best sound, and I would need to know that in order to make my choice.

What I did say was that you don't need to spend multiple thousands to get a very satisfying DAC these days, especially if you tweak it nicely. OTOH if you have the bucks you can do better sound-wise. You have a very nice DAC and I would love to compare your source with my own.

Konky, we're mentioning a lot of things : one-box players, external DACs, transports. You will have to do most of your own leg work searching.

If you're interested in a transport like mine, there's one up for sale (with a matching DAC) here now. Enter "Esoteric" in the search field on the AudiogoN home page and you'll find it in the list. Please don't think that just because I use one, that's what you should get! Remember this is older gear. It will need maintenance and repair sooner than new stuff, and sometimes parts are not available.

Search the archives here and at Audio Asylum for transports and DACs that people think well of. An Apogee Mini-DAC with USB will cost from $600 used. Keep watching here and on eBay for availability and pricing info. Also, frankly, the Cambridge 840 is a good player. You could do a lot worse than just get that. Get a listen to it! Mdconnelly has a good suggestion up there.