Upgrade cd player or Dac? need help

Muse Model Two DAC, preferably with the Bezel filter option.
You can grab these used for $400-$600 (more like $600 for a later unit with the Bezel filter).
bel canto DAC-1's (used) can also be had in this price range ($600 up), but the Muse with Bezel filter is better. Go to the AgN home page and type in "Muse" on the search feature (at the top of the page).

Another option might be the CI Audio VDA-1 DAC for $349 (new).
http://www.ciaudio.com/ciaudio.html

Digital cable: Illuminati V-21: About $45.

Hi Petrty11. Although I've never heard your Rotel 951, from what I understand Rotel sources in general are on the dark side, and I think some might even say dull. I don't know if the addition of an outboard DAC would give you what you're looking for. If anything it would probably result in a more resolving presentation.

I do have experience with DH Labs T-14 Silversonic cabling, both interconnects and speaker cables and both proved to be much too lean and bright in my system. In my case, Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cables made a significant change in the direction you want. A much fuller and dimensional sound. I too own ProAc speakers, the Tablette 50 Signatures and they benefitted greatly from the cable change. ProAcs have a tendency to sound bright when the upstream signal is such. They won't mask it. On the other hand, there is also a sweet nature to ProAcs as well and I have found as others have that they really like tubes.

I started out with two different solid state integrateds similar to yours before finally settling on a tube preamp with a solid state amp. Now my system has both the warmth you're looking for AND detail along with a massive soundstage. I hate to misdirect you and add more confusion to the mix, but I really feel that you can do other things other than purchasing another piece of equipment.

If you do decide to go with an external DAC consider the Bel Canto DAC 1 which has a reputation for being on the warm side. I own the 1.1 which has a power supply upgrade, but the sound is very different, probably not the direction you want to go in. You can get a used DAC1 for about $500-550 on Audiogon. Let's hope others will have some good suggestions for you. Good luck!

I'll second just about everything Gunbei said. I used DH Labs cables for a while and they can be a bit on the zippy side. You might try JPS Labs Ultraconductors or maybe even Acoustic Zen if you can find some used Satoris and/or Matrix Reference interconnects. Anyway, I'd try the cables first and the Bel Canto DAC second if the cables don't do it for you. Best of luck.

Tim