Alternate choice step up to the next level ....
REGA SATURN - R cdp / DAC
http://the-ear.net/review-hardware/rega-saturn-r-cd-playerdac
The phrase is game changer. This not a CD player as we know it, with the possible exception of the £6,000 Rega Isis nothing I have heard in digital audio delivers resolution and musicality in such convincing and entertaining fashion as the Saturn-R.
Ever since streaming came along I have pretty much given up on CD, most players are either dull or painful, it seemed to be nigh on impossible to get the resolution of file streaming nor the musicality of vinyl out of the format. CD players with vitality usually have a forwardness that makes them uncomfortable long term or at level. The Saturn-R, a £1,598 player, is extraordinarily revealing and, more important, has the best timing in the business. Whats its secret? After all the Apollo-R has the same mechanism a device made for portable use with a decent amount of RAM so that it carries on playing if its jogged. The DAC is different, its a Wolfson and theyre pretty good, yet Ive heard plenty of no better than OK players with them onboard. Designer Terry Bateman says its essentially down to power supply and house keeping, there is more space in the box and more budget so things are done to a higher standard. And the Apollo-R is a damn entertaining player, it is in the same ballpark when it comes to grin factor, so it would seem that Rega has managed to refine that and reveal more of what it gets off the disc.
http://canadahifi.com/rega-research-saturn-r-cddac-player-review/
http://www.sigsound.com/PDFs/SaturnHiFiPlus.pdf
I have the REGA ISIS Valve CDP and the Saturn R has some of its trickle down high-end technology to go with a superior build quality .