Better is simply better until you get near SOTA, at which point Tvad's point about flavors kicks in. If you heard one of these units really tricked out I doubt you'd ever consider selling it.
Dgarretson (System | Answers)
I agree in general with this statement. However, one can hear different flavors no matter where on the SOTA scale one's equipment lies.
For example, I recently experimented with a Paradisea DAC ($500) and my 1992 Sony ES level changer. The sound was terrific. Warm and inviting. In some respects, I wish I had kept the Paradisea DAC. However, my Modwright Sony 999ES is better, i.e. more resolving, larger image, etc...and I felt I should make a choice before the holiday gift giving season.
The flavor difference was clearly audible, though, despite the equipment not being anywhere near SOTA.
More resolution does not necessarily translate to more musical or more enjoyable, IMO. I have owned very resolving players approaching SOTA that I would never own again. I'd own the Paradisea again in a heartbeat.
I have no major argument against modding the Sony CD player except that one doesn't know what the unit will sound like after the money has been spent, and it's nearly impossible to recoup money invested on modding. Clearly, the player will be more resolving, and that's a good thing I suppose. With outboard DACs, one has the freedom to experiment with sound quality, and change as one sees fit. Also, several of the DACs I mention are considered close to SOTA (Dodson, Lavry, Benchmark).
