Friend
Meridian makes great DACs, players, and transports! However, to me they seem a bit laid back in presentation. Some folks like that effect...some don't. Personally, my short list is Arcam (have the CD73), Cary (303 and 306 line), and Audio Aero (just too expensive). On a $1500 budget - the nod would go to Arcam. I paid $627 for my CD73 - and have a modified cable feeding it into a Conrad-Johnson pre; and then the signal is fed into a homemade SET amp! I can tell you that for $1500 - you could really go up the Arcam line a bit! Find a dealer and give a listen.
About DACs. My experience with DACs is that they tend to exaggerate certain parts of the presentation; and while that can be very attractive at first audition - I find that it causes listener fatigue in the long run. Hope this helps!
Studio1
Meridian makes great DACs, players, and transports! However, to me they seem a bit laid back in presentation. Some folks like that effect...some don't. Personally, my short list is Arcam (have the CD73), Cary (303 and 306 line), and Audio Aero (just too expensive). On a $1500 budget - the nod would go to Arcam. I paid $627 for my CD73 - and have a modified cable feeding it into a Conrad-Johnson pre; and then the signal is fed into a homemade SET amp! I can tell you that for $1500 - you could really go up the Arcam line a bit! Find a dealer and give a listen.
About DACs. My experience with DACs is that they tend to exaggerate certain parts of the presentation; and while that can be very attractive at first audition - I find that it causes listener fatigue in the long run. Hope this helps!
Studio1