Upgrade my CD player or buy a DAC?


I cannot decide wether I would be better off buying a dedicated CD player or a DAC and use my current player as a Transport. I am currently using a Yamaha BD-S2900 as my CD/DVD player. I use my system almost exclusively for 2-channel audio, mostly Folk, Rock, and Jazz. My current setup:

Vandersteen 2CE Sigs
McCormack RLD-1 Preamp
Sunfire 5x200 running Biamp
Yamaha BDS-2900
Apple G5 for digital music
Audioquest King Cobra Interconnects
Audioquest Type-8 Speaker Wire

I have a budget of up to $600, let me know if you have any advice.
nickryder

Showing 2 responses by tobias

Also consider the Moon 100D. Whichever digital cable you buy (I seem to like cryo'd OCC copper cables myself), make sure it is 1.5 meters long.
The Benchmark DAC, which I have auditioned a fair number of times, has a large
following for good reason: it digs out detail like no other I have heard. It is
impressive and you may love it. My own preference ultimately went to a DAC
which I felt provided detail, yes, but also a special sense of the overall flow of the
music. Both the trees _and_ the forest: I hope I may use the analogy without
appearing to denigrate the Benchmark, which I repeat is an extraordinary DAC. It
may be just right for you.