DAC and CD Transport Question


This has always confused me...

If you have a good outboard DAC does the CD Player matter?

If I buy lets say a Benchmark DAC1, will the sound be different if I use and old NAD cd player compared to buying a Rega Apollo, or an even more expensive player for that matter?

Sorry the beginner question, thanks in advance!
gusterdmb

Showing 1 response by tantra

I recently acquired a Benchmark DAC1, which has a circuit that makes it immune to jitter. Even so, I can hear a small difference when I use my Alesis Masterlink versus Sony 999ES as a transport. Although the Masterlink uses a cheap computer-type CD drive, it actually sounds better with some recordings than the much more-expensive Sony transport. I have no idea what is the source of this difference. It can't be jitter. By the way, the Benchmark DAC1 is the best digital source I've ever heard playing through a Modwright tube preamp.