top 5 cd transport/dac cost no object

One of the best is also the cheapest. Pick up a new old stock Aiwa XC-37M on eBay for +/-$75. Then pick up a used MSB Link DAC for +/-$175. Have both modified by Stan Warren; which is about $130 for the Aiwa and $250 for the MSB. Total investment +/-$650. Adding a better power supply, like the MSB P1000 or other compatible supply will help make a huge difference. (Cost $300 to $400.)

This setup is the favorite of the Chicago Audio Society. They use it as their reference player I believe. You can check them out, and contact them with questions at http://www.chicagoaudio.org/
You can also search old thread on Stan Warren, Aiwa, MSB. You will find Stan's contact information there as well.

I will nominate the Levinson M37 transport and M360S DAC-- from long personal experience. I haven't heard the really expensive Levinson Reference products, but have read reviewer comments that indicated they are only slightly better than the 37/360S combo. In fact some even preferred the M37 over the Reference transport. I'm sure dCS and Burmester will get nominated too. Cheers. Craig

Do a search of your topic, there have been many threads about which players we all like the best. Since no two people can agree I won't voice my opinion again. But the companies that deserve being mentioned(in no particular order) Accuphase, Audio Aero, Audio Mecca, Burmester, dCS, Forsell, Levinson and Wadia just to name a few.

~Tim

I will suggest (no longer in production) GOLDMUND Mimesis 36+ and for the best converter GOLDMUND Mimesis 20M the Millennium edition.
Don't forget about SUPERB transport from ESOTERIC PO1. You can't go wrong with any of these.

2nd Tireguy's list. Covers the big ones...maybe add Meridian and the Linn CD 12...

TRANSPORT;
-TEAC P-0
-C.E.C TLOMK2
-LAB 47 PİTRACER
-BURMESTER 969
-MAYBE NEW GOLDMUND EİDOS 38 REFERENCE

DAC;
-KONDO ONGAKU
-AUDİONOTE 5 SİG.
-BOULDER 2020 ADVANCE
-BURMESTER 970
-GOLDMUND 20M

how could I have forgot the linn 12!!! I must be loosing it.

~Tim

Krell KPS25sc