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Question on DACs...........

I am using a Cambridge Azur 840c CD player and may upgrade one of my amps (a Naim Nait 5 i) to the Supernait which has a DAC onboard. Do any of you know which might be the best route to go - bypassing the DAC in the Cambridge and using the one in the Supernait or simply using the one in the Cambridge as this player, while not expensive has a great reputation. That is using the DAC in a $1,500 piece of gear or the one in a $5000 piece.

Apparently there isn't a lot of difference between the 5i and the Supernait, the DAC being the big difference and if the DAC in the Supernait turns out to be much superior then I will upgrade.

Thanks a lot.

Thanks
thomastrouble
thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 
Great info Kbarkamian - thankyou.

In TAS the review on the Cambridge Azur 840c ($1,500) the reviewer states that you would need to spend $6000 to get a CD player that sounds as good as this. It sounds great to me, but then again I have never had something to compare it to. If that really is the case the DAC in the Supernait may not sound so impressive to me. Well, I guess it is all the exploring and possible happy surprises that makes this a great hobby. I have compared the Nait5i with some expensive separates and it really does get you most of the way there at a fraction of the price - a truly great piece of gear for the price.
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
"In TAS the review on the Cambridge Azur 840c ($1,500) the reviewer states that you would need to spend $6000 to get a CD player that sounds as good as this."

I'd take that with a big grain of salt. I'm not bashing the CDP; I've never heard it. But I have a hard time believing that it would take $6k to better the 840c.

The SuperNait's DAC is excellent. If you have a dealer, you really should audition one. If not, you may want to look for a second hand one here that you can resell with little to no loss if its not worth it to you. SuperNaits rarely come up and don't last very long at all here.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Re the TAS review, in a subsequent edition he responded to reader criticism in the letters section. Harley reminded the readers that 'of course' he could only compare the Cambridge to players he had heard and he hadn't heard all of the players in that price category. I can't recall if he even mentioned enuf of them to give a person a point of comparison. Many readers thought he was just giving an advertiser a (unmerited, perhaps) boost. FWIW.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Maybe I missed it, but if you had the SuperNait, what would be your digital source? Th Cambridge would be used as a transport?
thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 
To Pubul57 - I was simply going to use the Supernait as the amp and the 840 as the source. Am I missing something? Possible as I am pretty new to audio. Does this make sense?
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