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I have a Cary 308T CD player, which upsamples to 96kHz. I am wondering if a DAC that upsamples to 192kHz is worth the expense.
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The 308T model is the tubed version, no? An external DAC of any type (192Khz/96Khz/Non oversampling, etc...) doesn't guarantee better anything. Your Cary's internal 24/96 tubed dac is just as good if not better due to lack of external digital cable (thus degrading the sound even more). Try rolling tubes...nos or even cryo'd nos tubes and get a primetime power cord. And oh another problem is the whether there will be synergy between the Cary's internal transport, and the external DAC. While Cary's own internal transport and DAC has gone through hours of engineered R&A on to ensure this, YOU now need to do it externally.All in all, too much freaking trouble to no guaranteed results.
Keep your player. It's probably very nice sounding: digital+tubes for a seductive signature. Roll tubes to tweak the signature. Want more "subjectively apparent" resolution and harshness in trade for listenability? Just get another player. Remember this, D/A conversion is inherently flawed (thus over/upsample to push the harshness to the upper limits beyond human hearing), and if a system sounds "good" it's due to a synergistic mixture of components, not superior technology.
Great advise , Some other things to consider are footers (ceraball , herbies , etc ) for the player , room treatments will do as much as spending several thousand more for a player/transport .What disappoints you about your present system ? Too harsh highend , treat the 1st reflection point on the side walls . Muddy bass , add bass traps .
Usually if you just jump on the upgrade bandwagon , your never satisfied and have spent a fortune . Decide whats wrong then repost about how to cure the problem . Alot of time it's an environmental problem or a direct equipment mismatch ( a thin sounding CD player and thin sounding speakers , or Phat + phat etc ,etc ,etc)
Sometimes you just need a couple of well placed tweaks and no equipment upgrade at all .
I've been using the Cary 308T for three years and I rejected all proposals from our local speicialists to tweak/upgrade it or to add an external processor/transport. Swapping the tubes alone really changes the sonic signature. I was surpsised to hear much more "extended" soundstage when I changed the Mullard CV 4003 for plain red print Sylvanias. Not better, not worse - just different.
What don't you like about the Cary? I think it has a tube output stage and if you get an external DAC then you lose that feature?
Agree with you 100%. Amazing how the "upgrade bug" hits and people find excuses for change. Few years back people were talking about the Cary being the next step up from the tube based Jolida. I've heard the Jolida, but not the Cary. If the Cary is really a "step up" from a nice sounding unit like the Jolida, I'd just set it, and forget it.
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