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NAD C540 player is dying. Replacement?

After many years of great sound, my C540 is adding its own mix of sounds to my music via clicks, pops, and skips. I've taken it apart to clean, etc., but to no avail.

So...... time for a new player.

The new player will be joining a custom tube preamp, a PSE Mark IV amp, and Thiel 1.5 speakers. Music is primarily jazz.

Unfortunately, the nearest showroom that has decent equipment is all at least 1-1/2 hours away. I could go and listen, but will not easily be able to hear equipment in my system.

I've been reading lots of other posts and wondering if anyone can offer other insights, especially with my other equipment.

I've enjoyed the sound of my old NAD so am considering the 565 BEE.

Sometimes I see Rega Apollo demos at a reasonable price and wonder about this player.

Additionally, I've heard/read about the Cambridge 740 (I think) and a player from Emotiva (ERC-2).

I'm looking for something that will not be fatiguing, presents well recorded cds realistically for staging, and just sounds good. I'm hoping that the next player will be provide some improvement over the C540.

Any insights or suggestions would be appreciated.
hi4head
hi4head OP
20 posts
 
Thanks for the responses so far.

Rich: The way that I read your earlier note, my interpretation was not that you were soliciting a sale, only sharing your insights. From seeing that you are also running the signal into tubes makes me think that the Apollo would also go well with my system.

Relative to computer audio, I have given this some thought, but, I don't want a computer in my living room. I've looked a little into the music servers. My understanding is that I'd either need to buy something with a very good internal cd reader (that then basically rips to the internal hard drive), or, have a good transport that then sends the signal to the server for storage and playback (with or without an external DAC). Is there anything in the $500 to $800 range that works well, looks good, and sounds great?

I'd love to hear if anyone could share experience between the Apollo, the NAD C565BEE, or the others noted above.

Thanks again for your help.
Chris
robbob
273 posts
 
I second the DAC idea. I recently added a Rega DAC to my system. Transport is a lightly modded Oppo player. After experimenting with CD players costing over 5K and trying several DACs, the Rega was the winner. It addition to doing CD's I have added a inexpensive Mac to the mix and it can also play network music nicely from Apple TV. A DAC improves SQ and adds options. If the Rega is too much money consider the excellent Dacmagic or other great units out there!

System: Merlin TSM-MXr, Manley Stingray II, Rega DAC, MJ Acoustics 150MK2 sub, Cardas wires.

Rob
hi4head OP
20 posts
 
Rob,
Thanks for the additional comments on using a transport with separate DAC. I was actually starting to explore this idea later last night and this morning. My NAD player will not function as a reliable transport do to its new glitches (skips, clicks, etc.) so I will therefore need a transport and DAC to take this path.

I am not against doing this.

Any recommendations on a startup path. I was wanting to keep my expense in the $500 to $800 range.

Thanks again folks for the thoughts and recommendations.

Chris
timlub
2,039 posts
 
In your price range, you can get a pc based laptop. Mac is out of the price. I'd recommend a dual core processor, 4gb ram and 320 to 500gb hard drive, windows 7 64 bit. You can easily find this for $400. Later, you can add an external hard drive. For a Dac I'd recommend the Musical Fidelity VDAC II or the Schiit Bifrost DAC. Then you'll need a USB cable, the least expensive with any quality will be an Audioquest Forest, you can pick it up at best buy. This compination will be $800 to $900 depending on which DAC you get and how long your USB is. This will walk all over your NAD...
timlub
2,039 posts
 
Nice deal on a Toshiba laptop, has all specs that I mentioned earlier... a steal @ $269, no reason to wait for BlackFriday.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+Satellite+Laptop+/+AMD+E-Series+Processor+/+15.6%26%2334%3B+Display+/+4GB+Memory+-+Black/3438577.p?id=1218402124648&skuId=3438577
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