help choosing cdp (shanling t1000& cambridge 840)

[coldkeith]

I just listened to the shanling t1000 and cambridge 840c and they are both amazing players (mind blowing experience). I enjoyed the shanling more but these players are out of my budget and am wondering if any one has any recommendations for a cdp like the shanling for less (500-1000). Also considering mod players also and wondering if it just better to get something cheaper and upgrade later. Sorry for all the questions but any help would be much appreciated


Thanks

[coldkeith]

apologies it was shanling cd3000 not t 1000.

[Hi-Finthen]

Did you have the opportunity to listen to the CA-740c @ $995 ?

I believe them both to be fairly close in S.Q., but certainly there are differences! To appreciate those differences would require a high quality amp and transducers, which you fail to mention, present associated components...

My point would be to latter add as an upgrade a tube preamp which I have experienced as being an outstanding sonic upgrade to the 740c component chain here! Again, here is with the gear in my signature.

A Bottlehead ForeplayII can be bought used on Audiogon for sub $300, for instance...

Hope this adds to the discussion and your thinking on the subject...

[coldkeith]

thanks for the reply. I did not try the 740 but I tried the 640 and it did not do too much for me. I never really thought about the preamp route how does it differ than a tube cd player (still learning). Would I need a power amp also. I am also moving towards an electrostatic system so these may cause some amp problems. Thanks again.

[Hi-Finthen]

Sorry, I'll lay out a few trails of my cookie crumbs for your digestion and then, you do the research. Search box here and over on Audiogon and perhaps too over on AudioAsylum, for instance.

Hint: the 740 is most like the 840 you heard, than it contrasts with the 640c...

Again associated components make all the difference in where you auditioned and at home in your system, for instance and comparisons sake between choices of CDPs...

Good luck in the research and with more pointed questions afterwards.

Have you tried the PS1 as CDP? I believe that thread/info. is still on this front page.

Best regards~

[tourmaline]

price/performance wise, the cambridge is one of the best in it's pricerange.

[TimJo]

The other cool thing about the Cambridge Audio 740c is that it has digital inputs, so it can double as a DAC.

[tom hankins]

If your patient the Shanlings come up used fairly regular on AudiogoN high end audio auctions, classifieds, hifi chat one just sold for $830.00
lso Welcome to Underwood HiFi, your source for affordable high-performance audio has one that is one week old and has full warranty for 1290.00.

If you preferred the Shanling to the Cambridge I would wait and get one used on audiogon, over buying the lesser model cambridge just to get something.