Come on then, sort my front end out.

[DRZ]

The DAC project is getting bogged down in all sorts of chip-related nightmares so for the forseeable future, thats not a viable front end upgrade. Therefore, I am looking at the possibility of either swapping my C272 for an Arcam Delta 290P (which should see me in profit, actually) and getting a new front end for ~£400 or just getting a new front end for ~£300 and keeping the NAD powerhouse for now (Im really, really fond of it).

Then there is the outfield suggestion of A3CR Power amps, but shhhh, lets not go there

So, for that money, bearing in mind I like the Musical Fidelity presentation, I ask you to do your best with my budget!

/me gets out the popcorn

(Yes, this is a serious thread )

 

[9designs2]

I assume you have treated your room first

I'd search the Bay for used DAC's ...MF have done a few DAC's over the years if you like the MF stuff...
What transport do you have ?
Would a power amp swap give you much, both are on the full/warm side.
See if any Deltec/DPA DAC's are about, old but had good reputation.
Arcam Black Box 5, Linn Numerik.
Front end first

 

[DRZ]

I assume you have treated your room first

I'd search the Bay for used DAC's ...MF have done a few DAC's over the years if you like the MF stuff...
What transport do you have ?
Would a power amp swap give you much, both are on the full/warm side.
See if any Deltec/DPA DAC's are about, old but had good reputation.
Arcam Black Box 5, Linn Numerik.
Front end first

I dont want to buy just a DAC - A whole CDP is what I am after. Obviously I have my own ideas on what I should be looking at but it helps to get some info from a few sources to bolster / challenge opinions.

Strictly speaking, I am not after a power amp upgrade, its just something that crossed my mind as I was posting

No point in treating this room properly Will be moving about a fair bit over the coming months/years so its a waste. Not that I havnt done a few things to it

 

[Matblack]

Even has a graphic equaliZer !!!11112

or

sell the lot and

MB

 

[DRZ]

 

[Matblack]

Its payback

for the wife coment

MB

 

[DRZ]

Its payback

for the wife coment

MB

I complimented her. Stop thread trashing, or I will have you killed by the dons, or something.

Nobody can think of something off the top of their heads that goes well with MF kit? I thought better of you OcUK Audiophiles

Looking to see if I can get an A3 CD player for cheap, but I would like more options to consider.

A few months ago a Mark Levinson CDP went for rather cheap but my ML experience is quite limited - am I likely to be impressed, given my kit?

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

For a single box player, and with your prefered presentation style, here's a few options that would be worth trying to find/listen to:
- Arcam FMJ22
- Quad 99 if you can run to the extra outlay, very good unit
- Meridian 508

 

[9designs2]

Oh right complete CDP ......as I get the impression your quite fussy and no what you like, just any old tat ain't going to do !!!!
Would love to recommend a Linn Karik ... genuinely think it will still spank most players....... big problem.... if the laser starts to go... no spares left !!!!
It would just fit within the £400 budget I think...shame
How about a Rega Planet, new model out has put the old down one to around £300-400.
Would Naim be to "aggressive" ???

Sorry finding the price point a challenge

PS
Exposure and MicroMega any use ?

 

[DRZ]

Hmm, Exposure are within budget and it wasnt something that immediately sprang to mind. I will investigate further!

I get the impression the Linn kit just wont "fit" with my kit and coupled with what you say about the lack of spares and the age I would be looking at, its not too promising there.

I can see it ultimately coming down to yet more hours in a dem room just to get a ball park idea

 

[commited]

Invest in a Monica 2 - you know you want it.

I dont see the need to buy a "whole" CDP when you're planning to build yourself a DAC anyway.

 

[james.miller]

i want a monica2, i know that much. and lol @ Matblack

 

[DRZ]

Invest in a Monica 2 - you know you want it.

I dont see the need to buy a "whole" CDP when you're planning to build yourself a DAC anyway.

Well, if you dont see the point in me buying a "whole" CDP when I am building a DAC, then why would I ever want to by just a DAC?!

The fact of the matter is that the CDP I am using at the moment isnt a bit-accurate transport without modification and so either way, it would have to go at some point in favour of one that was in fact bit accurate.

Makes FAR more sense to me to invest in a CDP that I can enjoy for now and upgrade the DAC of later without ramifications for the transport stage than to buy something that I am basically building myself anyway...

 

[philhoole]

Just out of interest, how do you know the current CDP player isn't bit accurate? I presume by that you mean that what comes off a CD disk isn't coming from the digital out ?

 

[DRZ]

Just out of interest, how do you know the current CDP player isn't bit accurate? I presume by that you mean that what comes off a CD disk isn't coming from the digital out ?

It is, according to the documentation, a scaled output even on the coax out (thanks to the fact there is in-unit volume control) and 1=0.95xxx so its not *quite* right.

 

[9designs2]

Sounds like your are suffering from "Too much Knowledge syndrome"

Listen more and measure less ..... a more stress free upgrade path

Remind me of your current front end/system ?

 

[DRZ]

Sounds like your are suffering from "Too much Knowledge syndrome"

Listen more and measure less ..... a more stress free upgrade path

Remind me of your current front end/system ?

I cant help wanting to know about this stuff

At the moment I have a Philips CD723 (in bits) providing a signal to a Musical Fidelity A3 CR Preamp, controlling an NAD C272 power amp which drives Mission M35i floorstanders (which I chose over some Dynaudio Focuses )

 

[commited]

Well, if you dont see the point in me buying a "whole" CDP when I am building a DAC, then why would I ever want to by just a DAC?!

The fact of the matter is that the CDP I am using at the moment isnt a bit-accurate transport without modification and so either way, it would have to go at some point in favour of one that was in fact bit accurate.

Makes FAR more sense to me to invest in a CDP that I can enjoy for now and upgrade the DAC of later without ramifications for the transport stage than to buy something that I am basically building myself anyway...

indeed. Your plans confuse even me.

You didn't want to buy a Monica 2 because you told me you could build better for less. Fair enough. Why then spend more on an all-in-one CD player which has a DAC stage, which ultimately you wont end up using. If you bought a transport and a Monica 2, you could then sell the Monica 2 when you were done, or modify the Monica 2 to your new improved specification.

A good transport (Meridian 500 for example) and a monica 2 for £400 will far outclass anything you can buy for £400 imho.

If you want an all-in-one, look for a player with the CDM0 or CDM1 transport (such as the old Marantz CD-93)

 

[9designs2]

Sound like a lot of messing about to me !!!
I'd just try out a few used/exdem players in some dealers, and get the best big brand name player you can afford.
If your own DAC, when working sounds better, great, just use the CDP as good quality transport.
Personally I wouldn't under estimate the overall performance of a good CDP from one of the key brands, they hardly thrown together, and building a DAC to outperform it sounds a tad optimistic, but a great long term project/goal.
Also a good CDP will give you a good benchmark for your own design work to compare against.
If MF gear is your thing, get the best one you can afford, like wise Naim, Linn, Roksan, Rega....... Then start enjoying the music and not the technical spec..... Just my 2pence worth.... happy hunting

 

[commited]

Sound like a lot of messing about to me !!!
I'd just try out a few used/exdem players in some dealers, and get the best big brand name player you can afford.
If your own DAC, when working sounds better, great, just use the CDP as good quality transport.
Personally I wouldn't under estimate the overall performance of a good CDP from one of the key brands, they hardly thrown together, and building a DAC to outperform it sounds a tad optimistic, but a great long term project/goal.
Also a good CDP will give you a good benchmark for your own design work to compare against.
If MF gear is your thing, get the best one you can afford, like wise Naim, Linn, Roksan, Rega....... Then start enjoying the music and not the technical spec..... Just my 2pence worth.... happy hunting

Have you ever heard a decent dac based around the 1545 or 1543 chip? I've heard lots of high end CDP's and the Monica 2 can hold a torch to all of them. I'm going to organise a side by side demo in the summer with a Wadia player just to see the difference.

I agree with you that good CD Players are "hardly thrown together", but you have to remember development costs and profit margins etc. A high end CDP costs a tiny fraction of what it costs you to buy.

I enjoy my music now with no fiddling what so ever. My system cost me about £200 I think, and outperforms anything anywhere near the price (or 10 times it) in my opinion.

The way you're looking at it is kinda like saying that manufacturers of engines get the most out of them and it is impossible to improve on them by DIY methods.

I'll be over in the UK in late August, and anyone who wants to hear my DAC is more than welcome (i'll be travelling between oxfordshire, leeds and liverpool.)