Digital front end question


I've been out of High End audio for 9 years, and have just jumped back in. I need to know if digital front ends have changed that much in 9 years ... Can a Theta DS Pro Basic IIIa with a good transport compete with a Marantz 8001 ? And would I be insane to buy a $170 Oppo 980H and have Ric at EVS do $1100 worth of mods as my front end ? I already have a good transport, and can buy a used Theta Dac like mentioned above for $500 ...
timtim

Showing 1 response by cerrot

Timtim,

The big thing with digitial is that it now sounds decent. Actually, some CD rigs actually sound awesome. You have to pay to play but there is (finally) some great sounding digital out there. A Benchamrk DAC, approx $975, sounds incedibly better than digital did nine years ago. The shrieking, etched, harshness and tinnyness is gone - with the good sounding stuff, that is.