CDP or Transport and DAC? Recomendations?

FWIW...I too have a few thousand CDs. I ripped all to an SSD drive and use one of my PCs as a media server. I connect an NAD C658 through wifi and play everything through my Rogue M-180s and Focal Kanta 2s. I also use the NAD as a preamp until I can find a tube preamp I like. Most likely a Rogue RP-7. I sold off the 3 CD players I had.I never got on board the SACD train. I counter that with buying hi-res flac files from either of a few sites and so far am quite happy. 

FWIW...I too have a few thousand CDs. I ripped all to an SSD drive and use one of my PCs as a media server. I connect an NAD C658 through wifi and play everything through my Rogue M-180s and Focal Kanta 2s.

How does the sound compare to a dedicated transport direct to DAC with preferably balanced technology?

I have the same question. For me, SACD playback a must. There aren’t many SACD transports out there. I have decided to wait until Esoteric comes out with their K-05XD and K-07XD SACD players. The K-03XD has been out awhile and gotten rave reviews-- state of the art. The new internal DAC is incredible. I have not had a chance to audition the players because they aren’t available yet, and even the K-07XD might be above your budget, but just my 2 cents. The Esoteric’s have digital inputs--of course-- to utilize the DAC. Esoteric told me that they’d be out by now, maybe coming soon.

Used Luxman D-06u, and can get a separate DAC in a few years if the tech changes sufficiently.

stuartk,

Why’d you return it?

JD

“The Pro-jet RS2 that I returned may still be available as an "open box" unit on TMR”