Lashman:
I am quite sure that you will get a wide variety of responses to this thread. I will offer mine.
My learning has occurred over the last decade or so and my system has grown and changed in that time. I have used a number of players and for my tastes I have settled on separates.
In my view, I would argue that a far greater amount of product improvement has been made in the 'marketing and sales department' than has changed in comparison to what was available in top quality gear made in the mid 90's.
My front end:
CEC TL2 Transport: circa 1995: they seldom appear on AG, and when they do, they seldom last long. Interpret of that what you will.
Audio Logic M34DSB DAC: circa 1998: Jerry Ozment's first DAC, a four-tube design. Occasionally seen on AG, and reasonbly priced. Highly sensitive to tube selection. A product you can truly voice to your own tastes.
Yes, good digital cables are necessary and they really make a difference: I use a Kimber Orchid.
I am quite sure that there is better gear that is available in current production, by my point is that there IS gear that was made more than ten years ago that is VERY VERY good, if not as good as Current Generation Redbook Product. The ONLY thing I miss is HDCD decoding in my DAC.
I personally am quite satisfied with my digital gear, and am focusing on rekindling my Analog Gear.
I am quite sure that you will get a wide variety of responses to this thread. I will offer mine.
My learning has occurred over the last decade or so and my system has grown and changed in that time. I have used a number of players and for my tastes I have settled on separates.
In my view, I would argue that a far greater amount of product improvement has been made in the 'marketing and sales department' than has changed in comparison to what was available in top quality gear made in the mid 90's.
My front end:
CEC TL2 Transport: circa 1995: they seldom appear on AG, and when they do, they seldom last long. Interpret of that what you will.
Audio Logic M34DSB DAC: circa 1998: Jerry Ozment's first DAC, a four-tube design. Occasionally seen on AG, and reasonbly priced. Highly sensitive to tube selection. A product you can truly voice to your own tastes.
Yes, good digital cables are necessary and they really make a difference: I use a Kimber Orchid.
I am quite sure that there is better gear that is available in current production, by my point is that there IS gear that was made more than ten years ago that is VERY VERY good, if not as good as Current Generation Redbook Product. The ONLY thing I miss is HDCD decoding in my DAC.
I personally am quite satisfied with my digital gear, and am focusing on rekindling my Analog Gear.