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Will a new Dac improve the sound?

I have an older CD player( Cary CDP1) . It sounds good ,but would a new or used Dac in the line improve the sound? Looking at Dacs in the $600 - $1200 range. I know the other equipment would also matter in the outcome, but as a general question......do you think this would be an upgrade to the sound? Or should i go another route?

GP

garypick
jl35
4,458 posts
 

as a general answer to your general question, I believe the newer DACs and Transports are much better...

soix
11,238 posts
 

+2 on the MHDT DAC recommendations.  BTW, what cables/interconnects are you using?

tunehead's avatar
tunehead
205 posts
 

@tweak1 

 

+1 for the Audiolab 6000CDT. I have one and its really good.

garypick's avatar
garypick OP
6 posts
 

Cables/ interconnects are other issues that i need to address. I am using Audioquest, i don't remember the exact ones ,but they are on the budget end of their cables. 

nakam
38 posts
 

I have a high-end CD player (Marantz SA-10), which I'm using without my DAC (Chord Qutest).  I can't tell any significance difference in the sound when it's attached to the CD player.  Maybe the sound from Marantz (even without built-in DAC) is so good you don't need a DAC.

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