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Upgrading the Source.

I've slowly built a two channel system from the time I was 16. First starting with a simple Yamaha/psb combo till now...some 10years later to a SimAudio Moon i-5080, Polk Audio LSi 9 speakers and NAD 541i CDP. The Moon was the last upgrade and thus the NAD 541i, even only a year old, is the weakest link. I've come to the conclusion that small upgrades will cost me more down the road.

I'm an avid reader of UHF magazine and I relate to the importance of source first. What I need is some opinions on possible upgrades. Arcam, Musical Fidelity, Naim, NAD silver, Rotel, Shanling, Linn the list seems endless.

What I can tell you is that I could see myself one day, getting that final Intergrated amp like the SimAudio i-5. Possibly 3 years from now, no earlier then 2. The CDP I need should come up to the standards of the associated gear I'm using now, and also allow for further growth with speakers. I DO however feel this will be my last CD player, untill a higher res formatt like SACD takes off. Perhaps the Shanling S200 with the Chris Johnson upgrade?

I even wonder if higher priced players then the one I have now like the Rotel 1070 are even worth the bother. Again, I'm very happy with the Polk Audio LSi 9 speakers (some of the most underrated speakers on the market, and rightly so from a big market speaker company) I want the jump UP to count. Please help steer me into a narrower path.
lush

Showing 3 responses by ohlala

ohlala
1,243 posts
 
Warrenh, his CDP is an NAD.

Being your final CDP, I would consider those CDPs you can audition in your system and more importantly in a system that is more and quite revealing without a monetary penalty. The pain of the source-first approach is that the CDP is going to "hide" under your current rig more than an upgraded one. In addition, the differences between CDPs can come across as subtle enough to ignore, but day-in-day-out, those differences become important and become more overt as you upgrade. Kind of obvious, but laying out for you to consider.

Personally, I like my Cary 303-100. Its a very non-offensive CDP due it nice tone and rolled off highs, but has good detail. I believe it is "undervalued" ($3k msrp v. sub $1k used) in the used market because of its replacement, the 303-200, and the 308s. You may not like in your system, though.
ohlala
1,243 posts
 
Warrenh, I believe the Cary was among the some of the earlier generation of analogue-like CPDs, which rolled off the highs. My understanding is that the AA doesn't have that drawback. I bet its good, and I should note here that for a reason too complex to get in to here, the Cary is the only "high end" player I have heard in my system.
ohlala
1,243 posts
 
Obviously I don't know what you have, but maybe get an effective rack for that new CDP. They are key players in the rhythm section.
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