Unless you still want to listen to vinyl the Capitole releases you from a pre. This is especially true if you buy the newest version with analog passthru for your tuner. The older versions of the Capitole are updatable with a new circuit board to also take an analog signal. It is probably true that the best vinyl systems will always beat out the best CDs. Having said that I care not to own two big sources (vinyl and CD) and have to bounce back-n-forth. I bought my Capitole from a fellow who has a huge vinyl library and, while he loved the CD player he just couldn't go on to duplicate what he already had in vinyl.
The Capitole is a wonderful unit that relieves you from vinyl and SACD as it does a great job with normal redbook. I also run my satellite through it via toslink, DVD player with coax and it even allows me to bi-amp the Capitole using RCA and XLR outputs so the Capitole services two rooms in my home.
The Capitole is a wonderful unit that relieves you from vinyl and SACD as it does a great job with normal redbook. I also run my satellite through it via toslink, DVD player with coax and it even allows me to bi-amp the Capitole using RCA and XLR outputs so the Capitole services two rooms in my home.