Old Vs New ..... Transport and dac.

Hi Glen.. "the Reimyo DAP-999EX Limited DAC is a R-2R ladder DAC. It was designed by Combak/Reimyo in Japan and utilizes their specific R-2R ladder design, according to StereoNET."

So It seems that it is a ladder dac...Probably not such a common thing back in 2010. I was a bot surprised when I learned that. 

It also uses the JVC K2 chip set that is used to master all the JVC xrcd and FIM series of cd recordings, Some of the best recordings on cd I've heard.

So It's got a lot going for it, other than the obsolete cd mechanism (phillips cd pro 2m) and surely the tech has moved on somewhere. How that all translates into sound quality , remains to be seen. From what I've read it should deliver what I'm looking for. I expect it to substantially out perform my Meridian 3 box digital front end I once had and my current  line magnetic cd player (also serves as a usb dac) that uses the ESS9016  chip, which I quite like anyway. It'll be fun.

Thanks Devin,

that's the kind of comment I like, ( supporting my original , possibly deluded, idea that Its going to be great ) :-).... I agree that there must be many, many philips cd pro mechanisms out there. A lot of the high end manufacturers used them I think. As long as its been looked after and I can get it serviced that I don't see why it wouldn't continue to run for many years. Those mechanisms where chosen for their durability/ reliability and accuracy in the first place.

You are right...It will look great along side my goldy/bronze leak stereo 20 tube amp and pre amp, they are quite a similar color.

Thanks for your kind comments.

Hi Yoyo,

I think that better is subjective. It seems to me that there has been a push in modern hifi to extract and project every tiny detail out of what you are listening too. Huge Power amps gripping your voice coils in a vice like grip, Presenting a clinked glass in the audience, as a spotlighted event in its own right. Now don't get me wrong, Some people love all that sort of thing, but I've found it a bit hard work as its gone on. And have resorted to tubes (SET) and Vinyl mostly. With some lovely results It's just I've never prioritised a digital front end in a system before. I will be using a Clear audio concept Turntable in this sytem as well. I could have bought a nice Garrard 301/401 with a nice tone-arma and plinth for the same amount as the reimyo pairing, but I thought I'd have a change. Lets see how it all goes... I'll post back my findings here when Ive got it all sorted out. 

Plus as long as its good enough to allow me to relax listening to some cd's of an evening with drinking a bottle of wine.... then its good enough ( I hope ).

Thanks for your thoughts.

@glennewdick , While the R2R ladder dac in the Denafripps is built using discrete resistors. The Reimyo uses the burr brown PCM1704u. It implements the same architecture but on a chip... So everything is not equal. There are pro's and con's of both solutions. 

The latest design of the Topping D90 is seen in the Link. 

The New Design will win admirers as it has a option where there is a user interface and there are adjustments that can be done to suit the users preferences.

These adjustments might come in quite useful if an Interface with a supporting device is one from a Vintage era, and needs a little extra sent through it to get it up to par when used in a particular assembly of a audio system.

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/topping-d90-iii-discrete?srsltid=AfmBOooA1n5gIo67x6Qd1utWs8Kuf632LdkCabvczQ6KZhVKYx-Oq0_6