Coping in an Age of Uncertainty

Other than the availability of some outstanding modified digital sources based on Universal players, I don't personally see the need to own a Universal player if the vast majority of one's music is on redbook CDs, and if the player is used in a two channel music system versus a HT system.

I initially bought a Universal player thinking I'd play my large collection of DVD music concerts, but the reality is that I seldom listen to them in my music system. I'd probably play them more often if I had a video monitor hooked up in that system, but I'm dead set against adding a video monitor to the music room.

I have three SACDs, and I rarely listen to them. In fact, I own Beck's "Sea Change" on both SACD and redbook, and I prefer the redbook version. I find it has a jump factor that I enjoy.

At the risk of placing an ad for APL, I'll quickly mention that Alex Peychev is modding a Marantz CD player, which costs a total of $1100 for the complete package, including the player. If I was in the market for a CD only player, I'd look into this. He's offering a 30 day MBG.

I have gone hard drive. I use a Mac laptop running iTunes, and a 500 GB hard-drive. WIth a high speed internet connection I get about 300+ radio stations and have about 600 CD's ripped onto my hardrive. I run this through an Audio Aero Prima DAC (which serves as a DAC and my preamp -- a nice tube preamp at that). and I am in heaven. This has totally revolutionized the way I listen to music as I now have my entire CD collection at my fingetipps--a scroll and click away. My CD's are in the attic! Best sound and access I have had in a long time and I am listening to music in my collection I haven't listened to in years.

>best sound

So you feel you haven't given up anything sonically with this setup?

Not at all. I'm not saying it is the best sound there could ever be or anything like that. But in my most recent CDP history this set up bested my old Sony XA777ES and my old McItnosh MCD 205 changer. But the musicality is only part of the equation here. Because of how iTunes allows me virtually instantaneous access to my whole collection of music (plus), it has forced me to call many of my priorities into question. I do still value a high end presentation of the music I love, and I did audition some very good DAC's before I settled on the Prima MK II SE. But, the accessibility is really a revolution.

Thanks. I have heard exactly the same thing from many people, which is I why I plan to head in that direction myself.