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Who has found happiness giving up cd player?

My system consists of Amati Anniversario speakers, Boulder 865 integrated amp, and Esoteric X-03 player. I like it. But I want to move to computer based sources. And if I do that, I'd like to go completely computer based, trade in my X-03 while my dealer will still give me full credit for it.

I've explored a lot of options. I know about the options with Mac or PC, through XLR or asynchronous USB or firewire, but I still don't know what to do. Go with something relatively cheap like the Ayre QB-9, and wait for the SOTA to advance? Invest in a dCS dac, upsampler, and clock, and expect to keep that for a long, long time? I like the idea of investing for the long term, but I don't want to end up enjoying my ripped CD's less than through my X-03.

It doesn't help that auditioning opportunities are somewhat limited, especially with my speakers and amp. Or that my dealer is adamant that I won't be happy replacing my X-03 with any computer based source, for redbook.

So my question is, has anyone found happiness replacing a mid range player like mine (or better) with an entirely computer based source? Anyone miss their transports?

Thanks!
Daniel
daniel_a

Showing 4 responses by daniel_a

daniel_a OP
4 posts
 
Brite61, thanks for your comment, one question, in your setup, do you also have the Scarlatti upsampler and master clock?

Thanks,
Daniel
daniel_a OP
4 posts
 
I come not to dispute tastes, but to inquire of them :-) If no one was happy, I would worry about that, when thinking about my own choices.

-- Daniel
daniel_a OP
4 posts
 
I auditioned the SA-50 in Dec last year, when I bought my system, and found that a song playing through the USB input didn't sound as good as through the transport. I later read Robert Harley's Esoteric SA-50 review, which I thought did an excellent job of explaining why.

I also found that the SA-50 fell short of the X-05 (and the X-03) in playing CD's. I ended up buying my dealer's demo X-03 instead.

-- Daniel
daniel_a OP
4 posts
 
First, I'd like to thank everyone for posting. I like this thread, it's nice to hear about people ending up with equipment that they're happy with, as opposed to the endless search for the perfect dac or cable, there one could go mad.

It's been influential as well, I was leaning in the direction of dCS, and decided to follow Brite61 with the MacbookPro+Int202+Scarlatti, foregoing external clocking (the Int202 becomes the master clock) and not bothering with the upsampler. So the X-03 went back, and I'm not missing it at all, the new sound is very, very good.

-- Daniel
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