In Reply to: suggestions for a decent digital front end? posted by sdaudio2 on May 9, 2012 at 17:34:23:
Since your request was for CD players I will stick with that.Audio Note CD digital is obvious. Something with the zero-times oversampling let you hear what is on the disc rather than being "noise shaped" to death by computer chips.
But a less expensive DAC alternative may be a choice for fans of the technology but without the cash and that would be from MDHT - the DAC is called the Havana and is getting good press - I have not heard it but it has been favorably compared to Audio Note. (linked below).
Problem is it's just a DAC - you still need a CD player.
I recently purchased a tube CD player from a company called Line Magnetic and it sounds really very good. And then down the line add a DAC from AN, Eastern Electric, or MDHT or something where the price/performance makes sense.
My Line Magnetic CD-215 pictured - unfortunately the U.S. importers have only imported their amplifiers so it may be some time or never that they will get over here. It's pretty terrific - just like their amplifiers.
As for computer based stuff - I liked the QB-9 from Ayre over some others I've heard. But I'm not quite so good with computers. I hate itunes - it kept downsizing my music files to lower bitrates.
Windows Media Player is SOOOOO much easier to use and not counter intuitive. So i don't get the "apple is simpler" arguments. My sandisk Mp3 was dead easy to use - My iPod classic is a big pain in the arse.
Edits: 05/10/12
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- RE: suggestions for a decent digital front end? - RGA 23:21:04 05/10/12 (0)