Do many CD players also have digital inputs?

I've owned several including the Musical Fidelity CD/Pre-24 and the Quad 99 CDP. The MF CD/pre-24 has a lot of additional functionality, including analog inputs, digital inputs and full blown pre-amp functionality. The Quad is sonically much better (IMHO) but has less functionality with only 6 digital inputs and remote controlled variable volume control.

So, in my book the Quad 99 CDP is King! It is sonically very good and it has digital inputs and variable volume control. If you only have digital sources, the Quad will allow you to get rid of a seperate pre-amp completely and connect the Quad directly to a power amp.

The Quad is $1495 new and sells for about $850-1050 used. Yes, it is outside of your price range, but if you also use it to replace an expensive pre-amp, it becomes a great value.

Enjoy,

TIC

Tim,

The Zen Select can be a great amp with the right speakers, but I would caution you to make sure you have selected a speaker that is high efficiency and has a low nominal impedence. Actually, the Zen Select prefers to see a 2 ohm load at its output. There are not many highly efficient speakers that are also low impedence.

A friend of mine actually produces speakers designed to work with the Zen. They are called Parker Audio. Dave Dutill is a huge Zen fan and his speakers are used by many Zen owners. You can see his stuff at www.parkeraudio.net .

I tried a Zen Select with my (easy to drive) Reference 3A MM DeCapos and they actually "puked" at moderate volume.

I've spent a bit of time with a Zen Select driving a pair of speakers built by Dave Dutill and it was VERY good!

Enjoy,

TIC