2. digital
  3. 151513-1797

New school Or old School DAC Or Cd player?

Guys looking at new DAC- For example looking at the Terminator and Jays transport- I only play CD and was thinking for the same price that I pay for the terminator and transport- I can get a Rega Isis Cd player with high reviews-Or I can get a BAlabo DAC or other older High end DACS for the same price- which is a better choice for Redbook- If I go with the older DACS I get a hi end piece for pennies on the dollar and can use my Oppo as a transport or my Sound Science server- thanks for the advice-
fluffers
5 responses Add your response
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
619 posts
 
An external Dac is only as good as the transport and digital cable. I went with a Sparkler Audio S503 Spiral CD player. Very natural detailed sound using a NOS chip. Great sounding CD player for red book playback!

Hope  you find what your looking for...

http://sparkler-audio.com/portfolio/S503_en.html

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2019/08/11/sparkler-audio-spiral-ether-review/


twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
It all depends on your plans.  If you're going to rip your CDs to digital files, and/or do a lot of streaming, then DAC.  If you have a large collection of CDs and simply plan to continue playing them, then a player makes a lot of sense (among other things, no connection/interface between the two boxes).  Besides the Isis for those $$ there are lots of excellent players with slightly different flavors, Marantz, Luxman, Esoteric, Bryston, etc.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,040 posts
 
Honestly I would go for Dac . There are many good dacs , troubadour from audio mirror, orchid, Schiit Yagdrassil and Gumby , Black ice DAC , that did well in Arizona Dac shootout...
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
If you can get some older DACs so cheaply go for it! 
reubent
6,985 posts
 
@fluffers - I don't have the answer. However, I do have a Rega Saturn-R and it is fantastic. It is a dedicated transport, and multi-input DAC in one enclosure, so it works like a CD Player. I really like it and I've had many other great CD players. Based on my enjoyment of the Saturn-R, I would bet the Rega Isis is really fantastic.


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