Interestingly, an X-Series system comprising an X-10v3, X-Ray V3, X-Dac and X-PSU, plus the X-Pre and X-P200 amp, costs more (with the additional number of high-quality analog and coax cables that are required to link it all up) than a pairing of the superb Musical Fidelity A5 tubed CD player and A5 integrated amp.
Without any doubt whatsoever, the A5 combination sounds superior. And the A5 CD player's tubes (same as the X-10v3) sound altogether better integrated. The X-10v3 certainly warms and smooths, but whether located between source and pre, or between pre and power, it definitely dulls transients. This is great for bright female vocals or starchy period violins, but is unacceptable for plucked strings. For example, solo lute and guitar loses much of its vital sheen and detail and the leading edges of notes are flattened. This is not the case with the A5 setup where plucked strings sound fast, detailed and not at all compromised. Taking several interconnects out of the system (like the coax for the X-Dac and the cables between pre/X-10/power) probably helps too.
I suggest that buying an A5 CD player would be a FAR better CD upgrade for most systems than adding an X-Dac, X-10 and X-PSU and all those additional expensive cables to an existing CD player.
Without any doubt whatsoever, the A5 combination sounds superior. And the A5 CD player's tubes (same as the X-10v3) sound altogether better integrated. The X-10v3 certainly warms and smooths, but whether located between source and pre, or between pre and power, it definitely dulls transients. This is great for bright female vocals or starchy period violins, but is unacceptable for plucked strings. For example, solo lute and guitar loses much of its vital sheen and detail and the leading edges of notes are flattened. This is not the case with the A5 setup where plucked strings sound fast, detailed and not at all compromised. Taking several interconnects out of the system (like the coax for the X-Dac and the cables between pre/X-10/power) probably helps too.
I suggest that buying an A5 CD player would be a FAR better CD upgrade for most systems than adding an X-Dac, X-10 and X-PSU and all those additional expensive cables to an existing CD player.