This question comes up fairly often, in the general sense, is newer, cheaper digital gear better than older, more expensive gear? As with all things in audio, the replies are usually split. Some folks love the latest digital chips, and feel that these make the biggest difference. The other camp feels that the power supply and analog output stage are more important than the latest digital chips.
I am from the latter camp. From what I have heard in my system, the $7K CDP of yesteryear will perform better than the $1K CDP of today. To me, having beefy, isolated power supplies and top quality components in the analog output stage makes a bigger sonic difference than having the latest digital chips with cheap parts. Of course, as always, YMMV. I'm sure that others will disagree.
I am from the latter camp. From what I have heard in my system, the $7K CDP of yesteryear will perform better than the $1K CDP of today. To me, having beefy, isolated power supplies and top quality components in the analog output stage makes a bigger sonic difference than having the latest digital chips with cheap parts. Of course, as always, YMMV. I'm sure that others will disagree.