Suggest you keep the Cambridge as a transport. Add a jitter reduction device (used Audio Alchemy, etc) and dac. For a dac, I would suggest either the Bel Canto, or if you want to save money, find a used Micromega dac. Get some Apogee Digital cables to start with or Harmonic Tech if you want to spend more. If you still feel the need to spend money, suggest you look into different speakers. I have an Audio Refinement Complete amp and I did not find it to be a good match for my Monitor 2.5 speakers. These are older and smaller than your Monitors. My Monitors work better with an NAD receiver and I am using B&W DM 602s2 with the ARC.
Replace Cambridge Audio D500 or add DAC?
I have $1000-$1500 to upgrade my system, and one of the components I'm considering to upgrade is my CD Player. Currently I have a Cambridge Audio D500, Audio Refinement Complete Amp, and Monitor Audio 5i speakers. I'm using Transparent Audio Music Link SuperXL RCA interconnect, Transparent Audio MusicWave speaker cables, and stock power cords. I'm looking for a little more detail, more airy sound, and better seperation/distinction between instruments. I'm wondering whether adding an upgraded power cord and the Cambridge Audio S700 DAC would give me these qualities, and would it give me approximately the same sound quality as a $1000-$1500 CD Player.
Thanks,
Gil
Thanks,
Gil