Modwright Transporter VS Opera Droplet 5.0 CDP.

2.1 with Audio Note Hi-B balanced C-core output transformers + upgraded parts and labor.
If you can build it, substantially less. (you are right about DIY kit but should mentioned many options which can be utilize into design)
Am I wrong?

Also - Response Audio (or now Bella Extreme) offers finish AN products with customized options. I am not sure about latest pricing but I do not think that I was to far of the mark.

As to the other part of your post - agreed.

Best
Mariusz

Droplet 3.1 yes, but 5.0 doesn't have digital or usb ins. As far as the info on their website goes.

I see.
In that case ..... Droplet 5.0 looks like very interesting piece.

Droplet I own (almost 2yo) works/sounds great and it would be hard to get rid of. For what you have in mind, I have two HPA Red Wine Audio Isabella DACs on order (should be finished in a week) but Opera's new approach seems very intrigue to say the least.

As a side note -
I have used Droplet 5.0 as a stand alone CDP and as a transport with Isabellina DAC build-in my Isabella preamp (now traded towards the HPA)
[RWA HPA works as a digital preamp with volume control and remote. As much as I liked my RWA Isabella pre, I will be better of with two HPAs since I separated my analog and digital rig in both systems]

Modwight TP has its own followers and it shouldn't be a surprise. Personally, I do not recall hearing MTP recently so I can't make any meaningful suggestions except that I am not giving up on my silver disks ......... even with up coming RWA HPAs (it also has USB in).

Few other ideas that come to mind are:

- wait a bit for new squeezebox touch with native handling of 24/96 files
(I'm sure mods for it will come soon after its release in US ) + DAC
- new Modwright Oppo BDP 83 mods

Anyway - it's you who has to figure out what's best for your system.

Mariusz

Touch is a streaming device which needs external DAC (for quality playback) to process the digital files from your PC..
All you need is a DAC with balance out if that is what you had in mind.

Mariusz

P.S
I believe that it has been already released in "Outback" - U.S will have to wait.

AN is a nice dac but 5K doesn't justify its price IMHO.

The biggest question you have to ask yourself is:
do you want you PC to be a lone digital source
or integration of both: computer music files and red book CDs?

For the PC only setup, I would recommend Empirical Audio battery powered re-clocker with the bast DAC you can afford (most inexpensive DACs sound to edgy and forward to my taste) with features and options best suited for your system.

If CD playback is still important to you, adding quality transport to above setup would give you "best" of both words. IMO

Mariusz

You can read some of my comment here about Droplet and its sound as a stand alone player or as a transport with use of external NOS - non oversampling DAC.
I agree that up-sampling DACs lock "musicality" that can be associate with well setup vinyl rig.

link to thread

Mariusz