CD transports

I had been using my moded Oppo 105 (LPS, Furutec IEC with silver tail to the power supply and jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch). I play SACDs direct to my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5, but I use a Pangea XLSE digital coax ($169 from AudioAdvisor) to the DDP 1 internal dac for redbook. I have/had a Marantz HD CD-1 as a backup, but recently decided to reinsert it as redbook transport. It is/was quite a it better, but quickly started making a scratching sound. I took it apart and located the problem, but it isn’t a simple fix, requiring a new mechanism @ $150+ shipping. No bueno

 

I started investigating reasonably priced transports and read the attached review of the Audiolab 6000. I found a slightly used one on Agon (at a great price): it should arrive this Thursday

hth

@facten Op, if you want to degrade your sound take this advice proffered above:

From the OP - 

I recently started running my CD player ( Luxman D380) through my external DAC and have found a significant sonic improvement.

 I'm now tempted to see how my antique Panasonic DVD player goes with an external DAC.

@tweak1 How are you liking your Audiolab 6000 CDT?

I wonder if I would achieve further improvement in sound quality if I traded in the Luxman and bought a dedicated CD transport ( price range 3-4 K ).

No. Keep your Luxman as a transport til it dies. Take that money and buy an Innuos Zen Mk3 server/ streamer for about $2500. Load all your CDs directly into it and enjoy all your music from your chair in any order you wish. Plus, you’ll have access to worlds of music through streaming you would’ve never otherwise been exposed to. This, IMHO, has been the greatest upgrade in music I’ve ever made. I listen to my own music less than 50% of the time these days and have discovered so much more music that enriches my life so much more than any equipment upgrade ever has. Get the Innuos Zen and a Qobuz subscription and I promise you your audiophile experience will be totally transformed forever. Just my $0.02 FWIW.