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After my last query on used DACs, it seems that maybe, on my limited budget, I should just get a new CD player instead. I have narrowed the field to the following:Cambridge Audio 540C v2.0 = $360
Marantz CD-5001 = $300
NAD C521BEE = $300Please, what are your opinions/comments on these? I'm 100 miles from the nearest boutique so listening around is not practical for me. I intend to upgrade my front end sometime before summer ends.
The player will be in this system:
Rotel RC-970BX preamp
vintage 60w Marantz power amp
Energy C-2 speakers
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Follow Ups:
Suggest going to your local circuit city or equivalent and grab a couple of $50 DVD players to audition... 30 day no questrions asked return policy makes Audio dealer tactics seem a bad joke.
These cheap gizmos can be significantly better sounding than the "real" audio CD units .. without question at the $500 level and when slightly modded (if you choose to:-) better than the $2k units.
Yes this is controversial amoungst those who have already spent the $2k.. understandibly.
Use your own ears to decide, they can be surprisingly discerning.. once you gotten them well away from the incessant "Buy This" Babble
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How do those 3 CD players compare to Adcom GDA-700, or Musical Fidelity X-DAC, or MSB Link DAC III? Especially considering that I plan to use an older Philips-Magnavox DVD player as the transport?
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Hi, I've listened to a good number of mid-priced CD players including the Cambridge and NAD CDPs you mention. In my opinion, both are better than any inexpensive DVD players I have heard. I like the Cambridge line as a very good bang for the buck player. Generally the delivery is smooth and more analogue sounding than cheaper players which often sound a bit thin. The Adcom 700 DAC is one of the better DACs in that price range, with great separation and only a hint of artificiality on percussion. I firmly believe that the quality of the transport you use with a DAC does make a difference. That has been my experience.
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The Adcom is at the top of my list of DACs, and is the one I would probably hold out for. But it seems safer to go with a 1-box plyer, especially as I question how good my current DVD player would work as a transport.Am leaning very heavily towards the NAD. Funny, but I started out really wanting the Cambridge Audio.
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You might want to look into the Rotel 991. That was a great player that I wish I would have kept for my bedroom setup. Get's 95% of what I get from my $2k MF player. Just my opinion. Dave
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The Rotel is high on my list of used players. But I think I prefer to go new.
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