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Digital front end question

I've been out of High End audio for 9 years, and have just jumped back in. I need to know if digital front ends have changed that much in 9 years ... Can a Theta DS Pro Basic IIIa with a good transport compete with a Marantz 8001 ? And would I be insane to buy a $170 Oppo 980H and have Ric at EVS do $1100 worth of mods as my front end ? I already have a good transport, and can buy a used Theta Dac like mentioned above for $500 ...
timtim

Showing 1 response by macdadtexas

macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
If you have an iTunes account or any digital music, I would suggest that you buy a good DAC (the Benchmark mentioned above is a great place to start), and some type of media server such as a Logitech Duet or AppleTV. Download all of your CD's to WAV or AppleLossless files. You will be shocked by the sound and the ease of use. I love my AppleTV because it is just so easy to use, and after many, many DAC's I found one that's just perfect for my system. I sold a modded Denon 5910ci because the sound from the AppleTV DAC was just that good. I didn't think it was worth messing with the disc's anymore. For SACD and DVD's I use an unmodded Oppo 980 when I want to toss one of those in.

If I really wan to list to "perfect" music, I use vinyl.

So, my advice for digital front end, is bypass the disc player and go media server-DAC.

Good luck!!
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