For those of you who are interested, below is quoted one of the most interesting parts of the article. The writer lists some very high end sources and details the strengths of each in specific contexts:
"Comparing and Contrasting Digital at Audio Federation
Thursday, March 1st, 2007 by Mike
In this post, we will not talk about sonic characteristcs, per se, but just the differences in functionality of the higher-end players we currently have available.
Just by itself, the difference in what these players do, and their basic approach to sound, is enough to differentiate them - enough to help many people choose which one they are most likely interested in.
*** Audio Note U.K. DAC / Transport combinations. $[varies]
Tube. If you want a musical, very customizable sound (through tube-rolling), do not need another preamp, do not want to run your PC or video system into the DAC. , and have space for a two component player.
*** Audio Aero Capitole Reference CD player with linestage: $9,580.00.
Tube. If you want a very musical yet unveiled sound, need a good linestage, and do not care about SACD.
*** EMM Labs CDSA CD / SACD player $9,995.00
Solid-state. If you want a very pure yet musical sound, want SACD, do not need another preamp, do not want to run your PC or video system into the DAC, and/or only have rack space for one component.
*** Audio Aero Prestige CD /SACD player with linestage: $12,990.00.
Tube. If you want a very musical, detailed and solid sound, want SACD, need a good linestage, need a front loading CD player and/or only have rack space for one component.
*** EMM Labs CDSD SE and DCC2 SE: $21,900.00
Solid-state. If you want a very pure yet musical sound, want SACD, need a good line-stage, and/or want to run your PC or video system into the DAC, and have space for a two component player.
*** Audio Note U.K. CDT3 and DAC 4.1x Balanced: $22,600.00
Tube. If you want lots of detail with each note rendered in an analog-like fashion, do not need a preamp, and have space for a two component player.
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A FEW THINGS
First, these really are some of the, if not THE, best digital today.
Second, the built-in preamp are really quite good. Not spectacular, but really, REALLY good for the price paid.
Third, given your current system, and where you want to take it, you probably have a good idea about going for a tube versus a solid-state solution. The solid-state here is very, very good, very un-solid-state-like, but it will not ‘add musicality’, but neither will it take away musicality [unlike most other solid-state digital]. . It just ‘is’.
Fourth, given a budget, it may be best to allocate a larger portion of the overall budget to a player with a built-in pre, rather than get both a lesser CD player and a separate pre. Not only from a potential shelf space (and extra power cord and cable!) issue, but because it will be find to find a preamp that does what THESE built-in preamps do for anywhere near the money.
Audio Note is coming out with several single-box players, so this will make some choices harder. But for people on a budget, who have a system that they want to keep most of, who know whether or not they like their current preamp, have a preference for a specific-sound, who have limited rack space, the choosing process is really going to be very similar to the list above."
