New CD Transport / DAC advice suggestions please

mtbmarkymark

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I'm going to replace my only source component ( an Audio Research CD8 player),  with a CD Transport and separate DAC. 

The CD8 is still a high class player and the tubes in the output stage gives it a lovely sound to my ears.  Unfortunately it has only a digital output, no digital inputs.

The Separate transport and DAC will enable the following

1) add a roon ready streamer feeding the into the DAC in the future. This is intended for the discovery of new music that i would probably buy on CD.  

2) adding a digital DSP processor between the Transport and DAC so as to sort some troublesome room modes. By doing this digitally i hope to degrade the sound as little as possible. The Mini DSP SHD studio has been suggested and i know this has a streamer built in

The new front end will feed into a Krell 222 Preamp and then into ATC Active 50's

budget around £10K new or used

I'm happy to embrace options that involves selling the Krell, or things that combine functions

Your suggestions please 

 
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PuritéAudio

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There really isn’t any need to spend that much, you could use your PCs drive to play CDs if you  prefer a dedicated CD transport Choose one whose CD mechanism is still manufactured.

Playback software such as Roon has inbuilt parametric EQ as do an increasing number of Dacs, state of the art performance is relatively inexpensive.

Keith

 
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mtbmarkymark

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@PuritéAudio

You make a good point about making sure the transport is still made, i will take that on board.

I am aware that some DAC's have EQ built in. Can you suggest some names please

 

Chivas

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I'm going to replace my only source component ( an Audio Research CD8 player),  with a CD Transport and separate DAC. 
The CD8 is still a high class player and the tubes in the output stage gives it a lovely sound to my ears.  Unfortunately it has only a digital output, no digital inputs.
The Separate transport and DAC will enable the following
1) add a roon ready streamer feeding the into the DAC in the future. This is intended for the discovery of new music that i would probably buy on CD.  
2) adding a digital DSP processor between the Transport and DAC so as to sort some troublesome room modes. By doing this digitally i hope to degrade the sound as little as possible. The Mini DSP SHD studio has been suggested and i know this has a streamer built in
The new front end will feed into a Krell 222 Preamp and then into ATC Active 50's
budget around £10K new or used
I'm happy to embrace options that involves selling the Krell, or things that combine functions
Your suggestions please 
I’m not too familiar with this subject, so apologies if I’m missing something, but if you’re going down the DSP route, why do you need a DAC? From my understanding the DSP device is ADC —> processing -> DAC. Unless of course you can and want to bypass the DSP device’s DAC?


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PuritéAudio

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@PuritéAudio

You make a good point about making sure the transport is still made, i will take that on board.

I am aware that some DAC's have EQ built in. Can you suggest some names please
Another option is to ‘rip’ your CDs or my preference take a subscription to one of the lossless streaming services, Quboz/Tidal, and only rip the CDs which aren’t on the service.

Then you wouldn’t have to worry about failing Cd transports and a whole new world of music would be opened up to you.

A small dedicated computer would store your ripped CDs , run Roon which is my favourite playback software , connect that to a DAC and that’s it, control the computer with an IPad .

Keith

 

Lurch

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RME ADI2 I believe has some capability in this area.

As for a Transport & DAC combo, have a look at the 4 box Lector (CDT7 Transport, 2/24 valve DAC, + PSUs for each) again its valve based and is a stunning performer. Keith (MF1000) recently picked one up used for £2.5k and is loving it.

 
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MF 1000

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Lots of DSP / EQ processors are ADC ....signal processing in the digital domain then DAC to deliver multiple analogue outlets.  The Behringer DCX2496 units I use takes L&R analogue inputs allowing digital crossover/eq functions to deliver up to three pairs of analogue outputs to feed you amp or amps

 

MF 1000

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RME ADI2 I believe has some capability in this area.

As for a Transport & DAC combo, have a look at the 4 box Lector (CDT7 Transport, 2/24 valve DAC, + PSUs for each) again its valve based and is a stunning performer. Kieth (MF1000) recently picked one up used for £2.5k and is loving it.
The Lector 4 box CD Transport & DAC (with valve output stage) ....seperate PSU for the transport & DAC is performing really well and I'm looking forward to judging against others once the lockdown is eased.  

 

Kawasaki kr1s

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I'm going to replace my only source component ( an Audio Research CD8 player),  with a CD Transport and separate DAC. 

The CD8 is still a high class player and the tubes in the output stage gives it a lovely sound to my ears.  Unfortunately it has only a digital output, no digital inputs.

The Separate transport and DAC will enable the following

1) add a roon ready streamer feeding the into the DAC in the future. This is intended for the discovery of new music that i would probably buy on CD.  

2) adding a digital DSP processor between the Transport and DAC so as to sort some troublesome room modes. By doing this digitally i hope to degrade the sound as little as possible. The Mini DSP SHD studio has been suggested and i know this has a streamer built in

The new front end will feed into a Krell 222 Preamp and then into ATC Active 50's

budget around £10K new or used

I'm happy to embrace options that involves selling the Krell, or things that combine functions

Your suggestions please 
Could be Interested in the CD8 can you pm history details And a price 

 

zekezebra

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Maybe a different way forward:

Up to a few years back I was using a high-quality C.D. transport (Bel Canto CD-2) into an external DAC but decided on a completely different route:

1.      Rip all my C.D.’s to an external SSD – with a back-up on a further drive

2.      Plugged directly into a Roon Nucleus hard wired to my network so no wi-fi drop outs. You can also roll your own with a NUC P.C. and Roon ROCK

3.      Roon and Tidal subscription

4.      Nucleus plugged into my existing DAC

5.      All controlled by an Android Pad 

Since then I can see only positives with instant access to not only my C.D. collection but a host of music on Tidal.

 Just to add this was simplicity itself to set up as the Nucleus already came with all required software and picked up my SSD collection and DAC on switch on.

 
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kernow

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As people have said, I wouldn't buy a cd player now, just get a great dac / streamer and use your existing

 

MartinC

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See if you can get a minDSP SHD  (not SHD Studio) to demo to see what you think of it connected direct to your speakers. If you liked it then it would save you buying a seperate DAC and you could sell the Krell.

 

PuritéAudio

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Maybe a different way forward:

Up to a few years back I was using a high-quality C.D. transport (Bel Canto CD-2) into an external DAC but decided on a completely different route:

1.      Rip all my C.D.’s to an external SSD – with a back-up on a further drive

2.      Plugged directly into a Roon Nucleus hard wired to my network so no wi-fi drop outs. You can also roll your own with a NUC P.C. and Roon ROCK

3.      Roon and Tidal subscription

4.      Nucleus plugged into my existing DAC

5.      All controlled by an Android Pad 

Since then I can see only positives with instant access to not only my C.D. collection but a host of music on Tidal.

 Just to add this was simplicity itself to set up as the Nucleus already came with all required software and picked up my SSD collection and DAC on switch on.
That is also my personal solution, I like the Roon interface very much and the software has been absolutely solid.

Keith

 

Bokke

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There really isn’t any need to spend that much, you could use your PCs drive to play CDs if you  prefer a dedicated CD transport Choose one whose CD mechanism is still manufactured.

Playback software such as Roon has inbuilt parametric EQ as do an increasing number of Dacs, state of the art performance is relatively inexpensive.

Keith
As I read the chaps post I was thinking as you so I'll just second what you've said

No need to waste money like that 

 

antonio66

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