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Marantz CD6004 OR any given CD player + Bifrost DAC?

post #1 of 5
6/7/12 at 8:18am
Thread Starter 

Hello. I'm looking to set up a modest audiophile headphone system to listen to my CDs. I already own the Sennheiser HD 600, but I've been listening to them out of a Harman Kardon HK 3385 A/V receiver coupled with a Technics SL-PD887 CD player, which doesn't have digital out.

 

The first thing I'll purchase is a headphone amplifier. I've been looking at Schiit amps, and am torn between the Asgard and Valhalla.

 

Next I have to decide what to use for a source, and this is where I ask for your generous advice. Should I get the Marantz CD6004 and plug it straight into the headphone amp, or get a more modest CD player with digital out and couple the amp with the Bifrost DAC? Which is bound to give me greater clarity and detail at low volume?

 

I listen to classical music, jazz, and classic hard rock and metal, along with some "world music", will be using CDs exclusively, and will never ever migrate to downloads or anything that involves a computer.

 

Any recommendations are welcome!

 

Thanks in advance.

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post #2 of 5
6/7/12 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 

No one?

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post #3 of 5
6/7/12 at 11:10pm

I vote a modest Blu-ray player (with coaxial or optical digital out) and the Schiit Bifrost DAC, keep using the H/K 3385 as a headphone amplifier.

A Blu-ray player is designed to read a disk 50 time denser then a music CD or six times denser then an Audio-DVD.

On eBay they sell DACs from $60 to $100 (made and shipped from China).

SMSL AD-793 & SMSL AD-1955.

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post #4 of 5
6/18/12 at 3:44pm

I use my Marantz CD5003 with my HifiMan EF2A amp and it works wonders.

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post #5 of 5
6/19/12 at 11:04am

I have an Onkyo C-7030 CD player hooked up to my Asgard and really like the sound.  It has optical and coax digital outs, so I can upgrade to a Bifrost if I get the urge to upgrade.  The Bifrost looks like a beast of a DAC for the price.  :)

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