Why don't you use the Luxman as a transporter for your DAC? Are you storing the ripped files on a
Packing up my CDP...bittersweet
Today I received my new DAC and will be packing up my Luxman D-06 cdp. This will be the first time in over 25 years that I have not had some sort of cdp in my system. But I am now 100% digital music. Even though I still buy lots of CDs regularly I use my PC to rip them into my library before listening. I've been using my current cdp as a DAC for the past few years mainly for sentimental reasons even though it was lacking in the features required for digital playback (no usb/AES/I2s input, limited to 176 sample rate, no DSD, etc). With a heavy heart I finally made the switch to using a DAC only device in my system.
Over the years I've had the pleasure of owning some very cool cdp. Here is a list of some memorable ones:
Magnavox D8880 boombox (1988) - my very first cdp I got for Xmas. I remember going out that day and buying two cds...Sting "Nothing Like the Sun" and The Primitives "Lovely".
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODY1WDE1OTE=/z/INkAAOSwGotWju58/$_58.JPG
Sony Discman D-25 Portable cdp (1989) - what??? A portable cdp??? Who cares if it skipped when you looked at it the wrong way? This was portable!
http://thumbs.picclick.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/ftAAAOSw2xRYTVQs/$/Sony-Discman-D-25-D-250-portable-C...
Sony MHC-RX90 (1996) - the first stereo I bought with my own money after getting a real job after college. This system had a carousel cd changer!!!
http://i.apreslachat.com/img/7/6/9/28967.jpg
Cary 303/300 tube hybrid (2005) - my first audiophile cdp after feeling like I made it in my career. This was the beginning of a long slippery slope of spending ridiculous amounts of money into this hobby.
http://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/162351-cary_303300_sstubehdcd_player.jpg
Esoteric P3/D3 transport and dac (2007) - from a technical point of view my favorite cdp. The Esoteric VRDS transport was/is a marvel of engineering. The sound was the best I have ever heard up to that point.
http://kahlaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC08623-1024x991.jpg
http://www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/REFERENCES/Teac%20NEO/p03_vrds_neo.jpg
Over the years I've had the pleasure of owning some very cool cdp. Here is a list of some memorable ones:
Magnavox D8880 boombox (1988) - my very first cdp I got for Xmas. I remember going out that day and buying two cds...Sting "Nothing Like the Sun" and The Primitives "Lovely".
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODY1WDE1OTE=/z/INkAAOSwGotWju58/$_58.JPG
Sony Discman D-25 Portable cdp (1989) - what??? A portable cdp??? Who cares if it skipped when you looked at it the wrong way? This was portable!
http://thumbs.picclick.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/ftAAAOSw2xRYTVQs/$/Sony-Discman-D-25-D-250-portable-C...
Sony MHC-RX90 (1996) - the first stereo I bought with my own money after getting a real job after college. This system had a carousel cd changer!!!
http://i.apreslachat.com/img/7/6/9/28967.jpg
Cary 303/300 tube hybrid (2005) - my first audiophile cdp after feeling like I made it in my career. This was the beginning of a long slippery slope of spending ridiculous amounts of money into this hobby.
http://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/162351-cary_303300_sstubehdcd_player.jpg
Esoteric P3/D3 transport and dac (2007) - from a technical point of view my favorite cdp. The Esoteric VRDS transport was/is a marvel of engineering. The sound was the best I have ever heard up to that point.
http://kahlaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC08623-1024x991.jpg
http://www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/REFERENCES/Teac%20NEO/p03_vrds_neo.jpg
6 responses Add your response
mahler123135 posts02-21-2017 3:53amSorry for not being more clear. I meant I dont spin discs anymore. I rip all my music to FLAC.CDs are 'digital music ' |
@jafant its tough to say because I was not able to do a direct comparison between the Luxman, Cary, and Esoteric. Many years (and pieces of equipment) passed between me owning all of those cdp. I will say I had both the Cary 303 and 306 and sold those pretty quickly. I can say for sure I was not highly impressed with those. I really really liked my Luxman which is why I kept it for so long just as a DAC even though it was lacking features basic DACs nowadays have. I would love to compare the Luxman to the Esoteric P3/D3 I had. My feeling is that the Luxman is a bit warmer, thicker than the Esoteric. At the moment, with my speakers and system, the sound with the Luxman may be just a touch too warm. That being said, if I was to ever purchase a cdp again the only two brands I would look at are Luxman and Esoteric. |