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Used DAC or Used CD Player???

Any recommendations on whether to spend about $1500 on a used DAC such as Levinson 36, or just buy a used player like Rega Jupiter--or something like this?

My current player is a marantz cd-63SE, so this would be the transport. Amp is MF A3cr, Preamp is classe cp-35, speakers are platinum solos
platsolos

Showing 3 responses by seandtaylor99

seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
I have a CD67SE ... on its own it's not a very good transport since there is quite a lot of jitter on the digital out. So if you go the DAC route be sure to either buy a DAC which resamples and reclocks the data stream to remove jitter, or buy a Monarchy DIP or similar to reduce the jitter. I use a Monarchy audio 22A DAC and the DIP made more difference than the DAC on its own, indicating that the CD67/63 sound is more jitter limited than DAC or output stage limited.

In summary I think a CD63SE may not be capable of justifying a $1500 DAC. My DAC and DIP cost $350 together and made a good improvement over the CD67, but the CD67 is still the weak link.
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
The 18b and DIP will certainly be a MAJOR improvement over your CD63, particularly in imaging and definition. Since you have a preamp why get the Monarchy 18 (which includes preamp and volume) ? The model 22A and 22B is the same DAC (more or less) for about $100 less, without the preamp.

If you get a 22A/B/C plus a DIP and you buy both used the cost should be about $350-$400. This will be a great bang for the buck, and you'll lose no more than $100 on resale if you decide to go for a $1500+ player in the future.

BTW the guy I bought my 22A DAC from was using it with a Rega Planet as a transport and he said the 22A sounded better than the stock Rega planet.
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
I don't know which Planet it was ... that was all the seller told me. I've never heard a planet, though I own a Rega Planar 3 so I know rega is capable of making good stuff. Whether a Rega planet would sound better than a CD63 with DIP and monarchy 22 DAC I don't know (obviously since I haven't heard a planet).
However I do know that a 63 with a DIP and 22A DAC is very much better than a stock CD63, and rivals a Meridian one box player which I heard about 5 years ago in clarity, definition, stereo imaging etc etc.
I just wanted to make my position very clear so noone thinks I'm giving biased advice. FYI I use a Densen B100 amp and Spica Angelus speakers, so I have quite a revealing setup, though not an expensive system.
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