New CDP or standalone DAC...?


Current source is the Oppo 103, bought three years ago. Would greatly appreciate any and all comments on buying a better-sounding CDP, or buying a better-sounding DAC and using the 103 as a transport.
Thanks in advance!

Tom
tomcarr

Showing 2 responses by mooglie

For your budget I’d suggest a Tascam 200 as a CD transport with a Schiit Audio Gungnir Multibit DAC. Alternatively, you could go with a Cambridge CXC transport or Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.  I like the Tascam as it uses a Teac 5020 cd transport, a very good drive.

The Oppos don’t have dedicated 44.1 kHz clocks, and Redbook CD suffers as a result, in my opinion. Most modern DACs don’t decode HDCD, but I have read that they still sound very good when the 16 bit layer  is when decoded with a high-end DAC like the Gungnir.  Schiit Audio offers a 15 day trial.

That combo should give very high end Redbook playback. For SACD or others, you could retain the Oppo.  Otherwise, you could look for a CD player in the same price range, but I’m not sure anyone in that range would beat the combo I've suggested.
I can't say as I have not used them.  However, a better clock probably will improve things. For Redbook-CD I believe a transport/player with a dedicated 44.1 kHz clock is the way to go.