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Transport and DAC or Upgrade CDP?

I'll admit to being a total newbie when it comes to anything more advanced than comparing standalone CDPs in my system. I'm currently using a Music Hall CD25.2 and also have a Cambridge 540D (v1) sitting idle.

Comparing the two in my system leaves me with these impressions: CD25.2 is more open, detailed and gives a wider sense of space, but is a bit cold and lacks analog warmth. 540D is warm, but it's not even close to the same level of performance as CD25.2.

In order to get to a better performance level I'm considering either selling both and moving to a better CDP (Jolida 100a maybe?), or using the 540D as a transport with a tube DAC. I'm looking at the TAD TACs most closely (TADAC and TDAC), but open to other suggestions as I know very little about them.

So...my question is...what's the consensus as to the better approach? Adding digital music is a consideration for down the road, but not top priority now. I really have no idea how to evaluate transports, and buying a whole bunch of gear for trial is out of the question.
meskandar

Showing 1 response by larry_s

larry_s
128 posts
 
"Best to get in front of the curve and consider a oppo 83SE. The developing format for audio is blu-ray."

Yes, hot on the heels of the success of DVD-A and SACD. (Classical SACD is a marginal success.)

I read that the Oppo is a nice sounding unit for the current audio formats, but I wouldn't buy it anticipating the success of BD audio discs. There will be plenty of time to pick a BD player when/if BD audio comes to life. And then you'll probably get 3D BD thrown in and maybe same performance at a cheaper price.
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