Rotel RCD 1072, As a CDP,Transport or with LinkDac

A Link DAC is a good add-on to a consumer grade DVD player if you want improve the playing of music CDs.

A good quality CD player is as good or better than that.

A Gold Link DAC or Bel Canto DAC would be a better upgrade.

Kind of a waste to use a decent CD player as a transport unless the player has a decent clock and jitter control that kicks in before the digital output.

A external DAC does not improve on a CD player. It replaces the digital to analog conversion of the player. If the player already has good built-in DAC, then the external DAC will improve nothing unless it is in a totally higher class than the CD player.

I had a Rotel RCD 1070 (earlier model of the 1072) utilized as a transport driving my highly modded DPA DAC. I had great success using this combination for a number of years.

Recently though, I have gone to a PC based system utilizing it as a transport & storage of ripped music from my CD collection. I 'm using SlimServer software & Slim Device Squeezebox 3 unit to feed digital signal to my DPA DAC. IMO, it has been very worthwhile moving from a CD/transport to a PC based system.

Go to the link below for a review & information of the Slim Device products. Good luck.
http://silentpcreview.com/article287-page1.html

I agree with the above posts, the 1072 as a stand alone players betters the MSB Link DAC. I had a Link DAC a long time ago, it was modified once and upgraded with the upsampling option. I used it with a $100 Sony DVD player. I would say the 1072 on its own betters it pretty easily.

CC, I own a 1072 and love it yet it seemed to not be able to replicate piano and female voices as well as I wanted it to. It does do very well on the pipe organ pieces that I play however the tradeoff is the piano is now in the room and I simply switch cables for pipe organ pieces. I have a Bel Canto DAC 2 in the system. I tried a Benchmark and like it but the Bel Canto is better. I called and asked Bel Canto and they think highly of the Rotel as a cd player or transport. As you know the items in your system-pre, amps, speakers and cables will impact on this recommendation. Hope this helps. Steve

Hi All who responded,

Thx for taking the time to read & reply with some meaningful helpful suggestions to my dilema.

My budget constraints at the monet do not allow a suitable & more expensive upgrade that would be a comparable fit with the rest of my system .. (also wife has needs too :)

So in the short/interim I will have to make do with something less than desireable as a replacment, thus the huge compromise. Although I've heard good things about the Rotel, I can get it for around $750. CDN, so with tax, less than $1000. CDN, which is what I can or will spend for now.

That's why also the ? about using a player as a transport vs as a stand alone player, so i could I use my old MSB Link Dac, to save $ , not because I like the option.

Any other thoughts on a decent replacement CDP for $700. US ? under $1000. CDN including taxes. Plan to buy soon.

Thx again for the time .

CC

If your Link DAC does not have the upsampling board, get a DIP Upsampler (about US$300 new). I found it to be an audible upgrade when I added one to my Link DAC.

Hi All respondents,

Thx for your info & help.

I am leaning towards the RCD-1072 can get for $750. new +tx ... Good $, sounds like a good bet for the short term ...

Also have been hearing alot about the EASTSOUND CD-E5, around $700. if I can get it here, not sure, but sounds like a GREAT Deal for the $ ...

There's also the Katana by Inca Design , a UK Co. CDP made in China , like most things hearing really good things about it too ., not sure the $ here if it can be had.

Will continue to research & read & listen if possbile for a bit longer & hopefully make a decide in the next month or so.

Thx again for all time & input.

The Sun is always shining somewhere but it's still raining here :(

CC :)