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Rega Apollo: buy a DAC or buy a new/newer CDP?

Rega Apollo supposedly has a very good transport. Would a quality outboard DAC provide a MAJOR improvement in sound quality?? Or, is the smarter move to just buy a new CDP like either a used Sony XA 5400ES or a Cambridge Audio 840C, or 851C

All three of these players have appeared several times for sale on AG. I am giving up analog and CD's will be my only source.

Having only a one source system, should I investigate an even better CDP than the ones cited above??
sunnyjim

Showing 2 responses by schubert

schubert
7,386 posts
 
Had same problem, solution was a old Oppo DV-970HD with a Peachtree DAC.
I thought it sounded better than my buddies 5400 ES I borrowed for comparison, so did he for that matter.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Sunny,all I was trying to say was the Oppo + Peachtree sounded better than the Sony 5400ES to me.

I have two Peachtrees, neither of which have given me any trouble, one is the idac which I use on my TV System, really an audio system as I seldom watch TV but like to listen to swing and jazz off the digital music channels.

The other is a DAC.IT which I run off a CA 650c as transport
in main system.I initially bought the Cambridge 650 because
to my old ears the 814 was to "warm" for the Symphonic Music
thats my main fare these days.And to me both Peachtrees get massed strings just right. Might be too smooth for some rockers I'm sure.
Plus Pierre at Mapleshade told me the 650 has an excellent transport.
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