Diminishing returns?

Sound quality and value/worth is really subjective.  Many of us here on these forums have decided that it is worth going upstream.  A large number of participants here would say it is diminishing returns.

The units you’re considering are well regarded.  However, the only real way for you to know will be to demo/audition in your home with your other components.  Ideally, you have a local dealer who will let you try a demo unit (fully broken in).  Absent that,  perhaps Music Direct or Audio Advisor. I believe both have generous return policies. The downside here is that you’re trying equipment that’s not broken so make sure to give it some time.

Good luck.

I have a Marantz Ruby and it is a fine unit with audible improvements over the SA14s2 I owned prior. A more spacious soundstage was the biggest difference, perhaps a bit smoother with fine detail.  

Regarding the issue of redbook CD vs SACD.  I enjoy having the option of SACD but I have redbook CD's that sound just as good.  The recording engineer has more to do with the final sound than the medium IMO.

If it's a financial struggle and you're happy with your current player, don't upgrade unless you can listen to the new player in your system and feel it's worth the money.

Sound quality improvements are hard to predict and the law of diminishing returns is enforced big time in audio.  Learning to be happy with what you have is one of the keys to not spending yourself into oblivion chasing better sound.

I have the original Quad Artera Play, works great straight into my amps, beautiful sound and every time I think about upgrading to another DAC at a higher price, as mentioned, if you like the sound for what you are listening to now, why spend the money.  The Artera Play plays all the CDs in my collection from around the world, over 1k and counting, SACD, Gold, etc... never ran across anything that it will not play and they all sound great!!!!

Thanks for the post, I found a lot of interesting information here. Keep sharing such informative post.


My Balance Now

i have recently done some testing on this with DACs rather than full CD players but when you upgrade, a big part of the upgrade should be a better DA Converter and analog output stage. 

My experience is there is way more difference between a $2K DAC and a $10K DAC than between a $2k amp and $10K amp.  There is a shocking amount of tradeoff between detail and soundstage and image.  

I cannot speak about the exact products you are discussing as I have not heard them.  It is worth your time (and possibly your money) to explore it.  You might find you get more than you think.  

@divertiti

If our brain is not on a linear scale, what scale is it on?

What is this "last 5-10%" concept?  Is that also not linear?  Is it iterative, or recursive, or fractal, or exponential?  Or something else?

What is this "last 5-10%" concept? Is that also not linear? Is it iterative, or recursive, or fractal, or exponential? Or something else?

It can't be turned into numbers, its a qualitative change. For the closest analogy, find one of those autostereogram images and stare at it. If you let your focus drift and stay on it long enough you may suddenly get a 3D image that 'jumps out'. Its unexpected. Very non-linear. Its rather like that with audio when you get to a holographic presentation where the speakers completely vanish and all you're left with is the performance spread out before you.

I agree that DACs seem to improve as one ascends the price scale, to a larger degree than amplifiers.  The OP, back in 2020, asked about a Quad Arteria vs a Hegel Mohican.  My experience is that as ones from 2K to 3K in digital audio, the difference can be very significant, but of course you need to listen to know.
  I disagree that it is only at the highest limits of price can one experience Sonic Nirvana.  With streamers, in particular, I find it hard to justify any increase over 1K.  DACs, otoh….Amplication improve to become asymptotic as well.  It’s possible to have a great Amp that plays the first 10 watts in Class A, and since that is what is required most of the time you can have sweet sounding amp at a reasonable expenditure.  Speakers are all over the place, but the size of the listening room is a major factor.  Focal Grand Utopia would look and sound ridiculous in my listening room, for example

If you are only playing CDs or SACDs, think I would pass on the upgrade CD player option. 

would be better off trying to obtain 24/96 or 24/192 files of the titles you really like.