New Transport or cdp

bikerboy

Hi,
I am wanting a new player to feed my new TPA Buffalo dac that I built from a kit. I am currently using the Toshiba sd-3950 with a bunch of better power supply caps. It sounds good but I know there are better sources to be had. I will be using the digital out into the dac so analog out isnt important. I see an Esound cd e5 on audiogon for $600. The $500 price range seems about where I want to spend. Would a Denon dvd 3910 or Sony es2000 work as well? Just not getting a good sense of how much difference a transport will make in the sound. I have thought of building a philips cd-pro2 kit but everything is in europe and looks like total cost would be close to $900. Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks.

steveinaz

If it were me, I'd get a Rotel and feed the DAC. You really start getting into "hair-splitting" at the transport level, provided your DAC is good--IMO.

organ

steveinaz wrote: »

If it were me, I'd get a Rotel and feed the DAC. You really start getting into "hair-splitting" at the transport level, provided your DAC is good--IMO.

+1:cool:

ben62670

I am using a cheap Sony 200 disc CD changer. I really wanted to upgrade my source, but I got an Adcom GDA-700(DAC) and it works great with the changer. I don't feel that going nuts on a transport make much of a difference. Before if I listened at low levels I lost a lot of the SQ all across the board. At high levels the everything has sweetened all across the board. If you are going to keep the DAC in the picture I wouldn't worry to much about the transport. Now if you wanted to ditch the DAC a real nice player would be in order.
Ben

AndyGwis

I'd grab a decent universal / SACD player and run that through the DAC. That way, you have a very decent transport + good DAC = good CD/redbook sound AND you get good SACD sound.

Best of both worlds for probably about the same price.

steveinaz

Good idea. I have often thought of doing a universal solution...hell a BLuRay player with SACD support would cover practically everything.

bikerboy

I have been looking at dvd/sacd like the denon 3910 and sony es 2000? sacd. The denon is $400 or so used and the sony $200 if you can find them. I am trying to make a big step up if possible. Rotel 1072? But will they leave me wanting the philips cd-2pro kit that is about $855 shipped from Europe. "They" say its one of the very best. It could be battery powered also. I2s out possible too. My car needs a new battery soon.

madmax

I am considering selling my theta data basic II modified for close to nothing due to having to manually eject the discs. If you are interested send me a pm. Sound is the most awesome I've heard, just not the best looking deal for those who require absolute perfectness when it comes to function. Just a thought. I replaced it with another transport just because a good deal arised.
madmax

Oh yeah, I'm considering something in the $200 range for sound you won't find for less than maybe $700.

bikerboy

I guess I need to know more about the door issue. Pm me and we can talk. Thanks.

madmax

Here is the thread where I dynamatted it.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23617&highlight=madmax+theta

I had another offer too of someone who might want it for $200 but lets lower that to $150 if either of you want it, I got a great combo deal on it and a DAC and only paid $800. That was a heck of a deal at the time because the guy had to sell it quickly to get the one he wanted to upgrade to. I'll give you a call BB.

Here is another thread on the theta:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17538&highlight=madmax+theta

TNRabbit

AndyGwis wrote: »

I'd grab a decent universal / SACD player and run that through the DAC. That way, you have a very decent transport + good DAC = good CD/redbook sound AND you get good SACD sound.

Best of both worlds for probably about the same price.

I didn't think DACs supported SACDs...???

madmax

Andy always has good deals on players. Solid seller.
madmax

steveinaz

bikerboy wrote: »

I have been looking at dvd/sacd like the denon 3910 and sony es 2000? sacd. The denon is $400 or so used and the sony $200 if you can find them. I am trying to make a big step up if possible. Rotel 1072? But will they leave me wanting the philips cd-2pro kit that is about $855 shipped from Europe. "They" say its one of the very best. It could be battery powered also. I2s out possible too. My car needs a new battery soon.

The Rotel 1072 would be a wonderful choice. When my CEC dies, that's what I'm gonna grab.

bikerboy

Las,
What do you think of the denon for redbook playback. I have no sacds and dont think I will go that way. LP and cd only so far. I want to improve the phono amp next.
Steve,
Do you think the rotel is a step up from your ces? Or just a different sound?

steveinaz

I have always liked Rotel's build quality--I don't expect to hear any (significant) differences in transport "mode" between the two. CEC is still avialable thru Audio Cubes, but warranty issues require you send the unit to Canada; both a hassle and expensive.

I had the Denon DVD-2910, it was "ok" for redbook (much preferred my CEC to it), but I hear the 3910 is quite a step up.

bikerboy

I am going to take madmax up on his offer of the theta. Looks like a good way to compare transports without spending a lot of dough. I will update with impressions after I hear it. Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas.

AndyGwis

Theta's are awesome transports and DACs. Even the older stuff sounds AMAZING. I'm rocking an old school Universal transport and DAC from them right now. Could be better looking, but couldn't sound much better, especially for the money.

To clarify, I know that very few (and very expensive) DACs will process SACD signals. I was simply saying most mid-fi universals are pretty decent transports, so add a good budget DAC for great redbook sound. Then runs analog outs from player to another input on your preamp and have good SACD sound, too. If you get a single player that will do SACD and match the redbook quality in one unit, you'll be paying a lot more.

steveinaz

bikerboy wrote: »

I am going to take madmax up on his offer of the theta. Looks like a good way to compare transports without spending a lot of dough. I will update with impressions after I hear it. Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas.

Nice choice, Theta's are well known and respected.

dee1949

...check out the Sony DVP-s7000 or DVP-s7700 dvd players. They are built like a tank and go fro $50-100 on ebay////great design with dropping front door to silence noise. They were reference players and sold for a grand. Great transports.