2. digital
  3. 138379-1659

Upgrading my Redbook after 18 years

My vinyl system is my primary source but have ventured into headphones as a second system with Redbook being the only source I use. Headphone listening is provided by a newly broken in Schitt Gumby thru a Cambridge CDX transport and I have started using the system more and more, am really impressed with the Gumby but would like to upgrade the transport and the Bell Canto CD3T has come to my attention with the bnc connection which as I understand would behoove the Gumby. I will also like to upgrade my 18 year old Wadia 8 transport and my Jadis D2 dac in my main system and was thinking maybe a single piece CD player in the range of $2,500.00 slightly used or demo. On my main system I like what I have better than the Oppo players so other suggestions will be considered. Please note SACD isn't needed and have no plans to download, stream of other sources just Redbook on both systems.
tooblue
soix
2,133 posts
 
I'd agree with @audioengr and keep your transport and get a good jitter-reducing device, then get a good DAC -- there are so many more great ones out there these days than standalone players, and good digital cables are also very reasonable.  Since you're an analog guy you might take a good look at some of the newer R2R NOS DACs that tend to have an innate natural and organic quality that may appeal to you.  In your price range I'd look at the Metrum Onyx or one of the Schiit DACs.  Best of luck. 
mahler123
633 posts
 
OP
Just for clarification: are you listening to headphones only, or speakers as well
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I use $40 used spinners I buy off eBay and play THOSE through my $7000 SACD/DAC player I just bought. You do not need the $$$ DAC, I was perfectly happy with a bought used $250 DAC for many years. A lot of older decent quality but cheap now CD players sound great as a disc spinner to a DAC. If you think what junk... I am playing them to a pair of Magnepan 20.7s...   
So there is a whole wide World of used cheap disc spinners and used pretty good DACs
tooblue OP
787 posts
 
@mahler123, two separate systems, main system/vinyl/CD with vinyl 95% is speakers and 2nd system just headphones with digital/CD source and this is where I have the new Schitt dac.
tooblue OP
787 posts
 
@elizabeth , I am aware of your set up and how you use your Marantz in it, I have a few old dacs, Wadia, Theta, Jadis that I use in my main system but after adding the Schitt to my headphone setup upstairs I was really impressed and was looking to cost effectively max it out and then address the main system downstairs where my digital front end is very long in tooth, like me.
More to discover