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  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
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.
tooblue OP
787 posts
 
@ghosthouse , I will definitely look into your suggestion and weigh it all out, do see the convenience in it, my issue is the old dog new trick thing.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
@tooblue 

Hi.  Yes, there's a convenience factor BUT I also find sound quality from ripped files better than from playback of the physical CD.  It's NOT that hard to do, either.  

1) CD ripped via iTunes (using Apple Superdrive) as ALAC file to                        
Seagate  2 TB hard drive.

2) Seagate via USB 3.0 to Aries Mini; Mini to to Schiit Eitr USB/SPDIF converter via Oyaide USB; Eitr to Gungnir MB via Blackcat Silverstar 75 coax.

3) Schiit Gungnir to Schiit Freya preamp via balanced/XLR interconnects.

My Gungnir doesn't have USB input, hence the Eitr.  The Aries Mini does have an internal DAC so output direct to the Freya is possible but I found the sound with a USB/SPDIF converter to external DAC to be more robust.

There have been past discussions on A'gon about "best practices" for converting CDs to ripped files for playback. The Computer Audiophile site is worth a visit.  I don't claim my method is anybody else's best practice but it works for me and the results sound very good.  Good luck.
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