Yes,another DAC question


I've recently got back into listening to my Redbook CD collection. My current digital front end is the Triode Tube CD player as a transport($2200) feeding thru
W4S DAC-1 with upgraded Caps.($1050). Very happy with overall sound but my question is, will upgrading to a higher-end DAC make sense or scrap both and get a better CD player(without separate DAC) I listen to mostly female vocals,acoustic guitar/piano, country folk,and some 70's music. Looking to spend no more than $10,000. I really want to take my system to another level.
My system:
Vandersteen 5A speakers
Pass labs X250.5 amp
Pass labs XP-10 preamp
Triode TRV-CD4Se tube CD player($2200)
W4S DAC-1($1050)
Mix of Nordost and Acoustic Zen cabling
Some high-end DACs I have some interest in if I go that route is, Bricasti M1,
EMM labs DAC-2 and the dcs debussy DAC.
ziggy333a
The most important thing in any digital audio system is the master clock and the jitter of that. Therefore, I recommend you replace your Transport or reclock it with a good reclocker with a low-jitter master clock in it. Reclocking will probably beat even the best transports. The W4S is fine.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Thanks for ALL your Responses. Still have not made up my mind yet. I am considering transferring my CD and vinyl collection to a music server and
downloading hi rez music on to my Mac. Still green on how to do all of that.
I spoke to John Ruttan from (AudioConnection here in NJ) today and I am going to meet with him about different options. He also sold me my 5A's. Very intelligent and honest guy who is very familiar with the Vandersteen/Pass Labs combo. Thanks again to all and Happy Holidays.
I searched long and hard for the best digital I could find without regard for cost . After much listening and about a year of dragging home more unit's than I can remember , I ended up with an Ayre C5MP CD player and Audio Research DAC8.
Not only is the pair the best digital I've experienced but it surpasses all analog rigs I've heard too. The pair is just within your reach.
Regards Tim
I almost bought the A R dac 8 bought aftercarefully testing it against
The Weiss 202 and the new Skylla -2 dac The Skylla was a revelation
More 3 dimensional much to do with the 8 tubes init and the 1704k dacs 2 per channel are considered by many the best Ever made . Burr Brown
Stopped production of these in the late 90 s for these were just to costly got hand to hand trim .The build quality is the best I have seen , also the preamp section inside is exceptional and the equal to many very good
Preamplifiers at 35lbs. The 3 R core transformers from Japan are are custom built , the many Zmundorf capacitors are of 1 percent
A pure Clas A -0 feedback Design using 4-6 x4 rectifier tubes for the over built power supply, and 2- 6h30 super tubes per channel for the preamplifier section and there is even several gain settings to make this a good match For the majority of amplifiers out there. A great Analog
Sounding digital product that will compete easilly with the great turn tables
Without he hassles.I am using the Superb Bryston digital player and
Use a mpad app through my IPad . My whole library through a 1T
Seagate USB drive and even have all the album cover art, and choice
Of digital cables is very important . I am using the Wireworld Platinum
USB cable , as well as a Wireworld Platinim digital cable.
Now with current digital technologies getting better and 24-196
Down loads as well as 24- 96 master recordings this is the future and soon
Even Hi Rez thumb drives will be available .