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Help a vinyl-phile with a digital upgrade

I find I listen to vinyl around 90% of the time. Not only do I prefer the sound of vinyl over digital, I love the whole experience of collecting records, looking at the album jackets, etc.

I still have about 500 cds that are neglected due partly to the fact that my digital front end just doesn't cut it anymore. I have a California Audio Lab DX-1 player that's over 10 years old. So I'm thinking of the following upgrades.

1. Use the DX-1 as a transport and get a DAC. The Bel Canto DAC2 sounds like it meets my sonic criteria and the Benchmark DAC seems like a no lose option with the money-back guarantee.

2. Replace the DX-1 with a new used cdp, possibly the Jolida 100 or the Cairn Fog.

Which option will provide the most significant improvement? Are there other options I should be considering for around a grand?

Thanks for any insights you can provide.

Regards,
Scott
scottz
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Read the latest Stereophile with review? or show comment on replacement for Jupiter Cd player... Something about Sony no longer making the servo mech for the laser and the company has been serching for replacement, found one and it is a whole noe ballgame. far better.
(I have forgotten who made the Jupiter CD player.. anyway that soounds like the sort of thing to wait for.
Sound promising.. (maybe Rega? made the Jupiter CD player?)
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
The question is not what will be the greatest "improvement", but which player or dac will be consonant with the analog sources that you prefer. Elizabeth is correct. In one word, Rega.
dill
815 posts
 
I have the Cairn Fog (with upsampler) and like it very much. Make sure you have balanced inputs if you consider the Fog.
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