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New CDP or new DAC?

One of the weak links in my system is my NAD C542 CDP, which when I bought it was a recommended budget CDP. In the new Stereophile Sam Tellig was extremely taken with the Music Fidelity M1DAC. So the question which occurred to me was whether it would be better to buy a new, better CDP, or to use my existing CDP as a transport and feed the signal to a new DAC instead (i.e. assume that, for example, the M1DAC is significantly better than the NAD's internal DAC). Also, if the recommendation is to go the DAC route, the NAD would let me use either a coax or optical cable to connect to the DAC - any preferences? So, I guess I have two questions: CDP or DAC, and if DAC, which connection path to the DAC? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
palewin
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
New CDP, sony 595 refurb from sonystyle for $60.
arnettpartners
312 posts
 
DAC with coax.
davetherave
95 posts
 
I'd recommend a new CDP. My experience has been that the performance of a decent DAC can be very transport-dependent. An average/budget CDP does not have a transport that will get the most out of a high quality DAC.
cmalak
681 posts
 
I would also say DAC through coax for the reasons cited above (flexibility to use both transport and computer-based or music server down the road). The one caveat is that you should seek out DACs that have very strong jitter reduction. I don't believe Sam Tellig commented about the jitter reduction technology in the M1DAC nor did he use with a bunch of different transports to make sure that it mates well with a wide variety of transports. So I would definitely try it out first in your system with your NAD CDP as transport before pulling the trigger.
pdspecl
254 posts
 
Hello,
I once owned a c542. Found the redbook playback to be only slightly better than my 19 year old NAD 5000. The HDCD playback was impressive however. I recently purchased a AUNE dac/headphone amp new from flea bay and using it behind the archiac NAD 5000 cd player. Very happy with the DAC and noted a considerable improvement over the internal DAC. The DAC has USB port too which is nice. A great value for $165, shipped.
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