Musical Fidelity CD-Pre24 Opinion


Anyone have any experience with this box? Seems like an odeal combination of a transport, DAC and preamp. My main concern is with the whole SACD/DVD-A debate. I don't want to invest in a new trasport until the smoke clears since I don't upgrade very often.
btrvalik
IMHO, you should get the BEST redbook player you can afford. There are some issues with alternative formats. First, SACD/DVD-A really sound great with titles recorded in those formats. However, most of the titles currently on SACD/DVD-A were recorded in the PCM format and, to my ears anyway, don't sound much better than remastered CDs or XRCDs played on a great redbook player.

Second, most of your collection is probably comprised of redbook CDs. Do you really plan on replacing your entire collection with SACD/DVD-A? Another problem is that a great many redbook titles are not and may never be available on SACD/DVD-A.

Third, I've not been too impressed with the redbook performance of combination CD/SACD machines.

Seems to me that a killer, dedicated redbook player is the way to go ... and, if you want SACD/DVD-A, get a cheap one for those formats.
I was disappointed with it. I was expecting more from it. I tried it with the matching amp and ARC and Maggies. It did nothing in either system. It is not very exciting. Actually it was dark and uninvolving. Follow the advice above.