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Decided to buy a high-end CDP - Need help inn the last mile!

Hi,

I have now decided to finally upgrade my Oppo BDP-95 which I have used for many years as my A/V player (more CD music than Blue-Ray). I have just upgraded my 2-channel music system to McIntosh C1100 (tube pre-amp), MC1.25KW (SS monos) and B&W800D3s. Currently the digital side is all Auralic (Streamer, DAC and Master Clock). I would now like to move to upgrading my CDP and am considering the following three choices as they come well recommended and have authorised dealers in Hong Kong (where I live). However, I cannot compare them side by side as they are all from different dealerships.

Hence any help from people who have heard or owned any of the below models (preferably at least two of them) will greatly help me make my decision in the next 2-3 days.

Esoteric Grandioso K1
Luxman D-08u
McIntosh MCD600

I have heard the McIntosh and its brilliant and since I have a good relationship with the dealer and like the looks of a Mc, its on this list. Mc is the easiest to buy emotionally but lots of data on the others suggests they might edge it out.

Views please.

Many thanks in advance.

128x128sudhirgoel
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
Thanks all. I heard the Esoteric Grandioso K1 and have loved it. I tending towards buying that. Its a huge upgrade on my current Oppo BDP-95
soix
8,634 posts
 
You could upgrade your dac to a much higher end dac, and with a really good streamer you would hardly want to play a CD.
I have to agree with @audiotroy as having a good streamer seems to be the way of the future, and I would trust their advice on good streamers as I'm sure they've heard many.  As another option if you still want to spin the occasional disc, you could upgrade to a better DAC and invest in a good jitter reduction unit such as the Empirical Audio Offramp and continue to use your Oppo as a transport.  The Offramp makes any transport a great transport, and you can keep using the Oppo.  I hate trashing stuff and love repurposing older gear if it still works -- but that's just me. 

For a new DAC, it's such a personal decision.  But there's a resurgence of non oversampling R2R ladder DACs out there that are garnering a lot of attention as sounding more "natural" and "organic" versus the upsampling single-bit DACs that have dominated the digital landscape over the past decade or so.  The Metrum Pavane has gotten sparkling reviews among others, and there's a lesser-known manufacturer that makes the SW1X DAC that seems most impressive and offers a free trial period (minus shipping) that would very much be worth a look.  Gotta love an in-home trial!!!  Hope this helps, and best of luck in your search. 
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
I bought and received my new Esoteric Grandioso K1 and it is superb. The DAC (and sound) is so different from the Auralic DAC sound. Most smooth and allows long hours of listening too. I play some music from the Auralic Aries G2 (streamer) through my K1 now.
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murgeshj
86 posts
 
I bought and received my new Esoteric Grandioso K1 and it is superb. The DAC (and sound) is so different from the Auralic DAC sound. Most smooth and allows long hours of listening too. I play some music from the Auralic Aries G2 (streamer) through my K1 now.
Would love to know the difference when playing CD and streaming?
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