Rotel RCD 1072, As a CDP,Transport or with LinkDac

I had a 1072, and previously had borrowed a Link Dak. There would be no contest at all, the Rotel besting it in all areas. Not even close. I never tried it as a transport, but it is quite nice as a player. You may want to consider spending a bit more given the system context.

A Link DAC is a good add-on to a consumer grade DVD player if you want improve the playing of music CDs.

A good quality CD player is as good or better than that.

A Gold Link DAC or Bel Canto DAC would be a better upgrade.

Kind of a waste to use a decent CD player as a transport unless the player has a decent clock and jitter control that kicks in before the digital output.

A external DAC does not improve on a CD player. It replaces the digital to analog conversion of the player. If the player already has good built-in DAC, then the external DAC will improve nothing unless it is in a totally higher class than the CD player.

I had a Rotel RCD 1070 (earlier model of the 1072) utilized as a transport driving my highly modded DPA DAC. I had great success using this combination for a number of years.

Recently though, I have gone to a PC based system utilizing it as a transport & storage of ripped music from my CD collection. I 'm using SlimServer software & Slim Device Squeezebox 3 unit to feed digital signal to my DPA DAC. IMO, it has been very worthwhile moving from a CD/transport to a PC based system.

Go to the link below for a review & information of the Slim Device products. Good luck.
http://silentpcreview.com/article287-page1.html

I agree with the above posts, the 1072 as a stand alone players betters the MSB Link DAC. I had a Link DAC a long time ago, it was modified once and upgraded with the upsampling option. I used it with a $100 Sony DVD player. I would say the 1072 on its own betters it pretty easily.

Hi All who responded,

Thx for taking the time to read & reply with some meaningful helpful suggestions to my dilema.

My budget constraints at the monet do not allow a suitable & more expensive upgrade that would be a comparable fit with the rest of my system .. (also wife has needs too :)

So in the short/interim I will have to make do with something less than desireable as a replacment, thus the huge compromise. Although I've heard good things about the Rotel, I can get it for around $750. CDN, so with tax, less than $1000. CDN, which is what I can or will spend for now.

That's why also the ? about using a player as a transport vs as a stand alone player, so i could I use my old MSB Link Dac, to save $ , not because I like the option.

Any other thoughts on a decent replacement CDP for $700. US ? under $1000. CDN including taxes. Plan to buy soon.

Thx again for the time .

CC