CD Player pairing with Electrocompaniet ECI3

This is a difficult situation for 2 reasons. First is your budget. You can definitely get a good sounding CD player for $1000-1500. You already have good sounding source components, though. For that $ you can make a change but will it be much of an improvement? Its one thing if there is something you don't like and need to fix it. That's not the case here. You can certainly get something that sounds better than what you have but it will most likely be at a higher price point.

Second is you amp and speakers. I haven't heard your amp but I have no reason to believe that it doesn’t sound good. Generally speaking, most people have only good things to say about Electrocompaniet overall. Monitor Audio I have owned in the past and heard several other pairs, as well. Very good products for the money. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. That said, I don't know if they have the resolving power to bring out whatever benefits you'll get with a new CD player. Just to be clear, there's absolutely nothing wrong with your equipment. I'm bringing it up just to stress that you listen to an audio system as a whole and that's how you have to judge it. If there are bottlenecks, you may have to deal with them.

Sorry I can't give you a more specific recommendation. There is 1 thing I will mention, though. This is a new thread and it looks like I'm the first one to respond. No doubt, you will get many posts telling you to buy things like cables, tubes, power products etc... Everything I said in my 2nd paragraph applies to that stuff as well - even more so. Yes, they do make a difference (and not always good), but the difference they make is tied directly to how detailed you system is. So unless its something basic that you do not already have, I would hold off.

I have to agree with Zd's sober thoughts on this topic. I think you should hold off until you need to buy a different source or eventually amass enough money to make a significant upgrade to something like a gently used Esoteric, as an example.

That all sounds like good advice. Yes I agree with the cables for I have lots on hand to swap to get the most of the system. It is all about system synergy and there really isn't anything lacking. I asked the question to see if upgrading my source can further the performance. From what I am hearing... if I'm happy....stick with it and upgrade the system as a whole. I borrowed a friends Electrocompaniet ECM-1UP CDP which I think retails in the $3.5K range expecting to hear a dramatic difference. I was somewhat let down because it didn't live up to my expectations. Part of that is what you guys mentioned... maybe the speakers aren't resolving enough to hear differences even if I did upgrade. It seems like I would have to spend a few orders more to bring significant changes in terms of performance.

Thanks for the responses.

Adding to my comments above.... I did/do hear slight improvements using the EMC-1 and my own MF A308CDP.... sounds appear to be more complete and a tad more solid. I guess if I find a good deal on one of those... I might go for it but otherwise I will follow the recommendations of the responses to wait to upgrade as a whole.

Ket, the advise of the previous posters (to not bother messing with a good thing) is wise. You would do well to listen to them, and either divert the money elsewhere or save up for speakers that might offer more of the sound you're looking for.

Nonetheless, if you're still looking at upgrading the source, I can recommend the Electrocompaniet ECD-1 DAC. Since you've heard the EMC-1 and generally liked it a little better than the MF, but not for the money, you would do better with the DAC. Used it is often a little under $1000, and supposedly has the same DAC as the CD player. The Rega Planet should function as a great transport. I own the ECD-1 and can attest that it is a strong, if not dated, DAC.

Alternatively, I would strongly consider a newer DAC. You MIGHT be able to get a previous model Audio Horizons DAC for under $1500. (I own one of these, too.) It offers both better resolution and musical palpability compared to the ECD-1. If detail is what you're primarily looking for, maybe a Bel Canto or Benchmark DAC would be to your liking. The good news with a used DAC is that you'd have the flexibility to both stay within your budget and potentially move to computer-based audio, and you could sell it for minimal loss. This would allow you to sample different options without losing much money in the process.

Good luck,

Michael