Basically everyone agrees that the better the source, the better the sound. I don't believe there is a PCDP out there that sounds like a nice, high-end CDP. They were meant to be portable, not be a high-end replacement.
HAving said that, I own a Sony PCDP that I think it just wonderful!! I have it set-up feeding my Creek OBH-11 and I got no complaints considering what it is and how much it cost. Does it sound as good as my Cambridge Audio D500SE?? In one word: NO!! There is much more background info and details I have never heard thru my PCDP that are now coming thru my cans.
Is it fair to compare a PCDP to a full sized, high-end CDP? No! That's not to say some don't compare them, but it really isn't fair to do so. When I competed in car stereo competitions with my 251-500 watt beginner class stereo, on ejudge told me to go look at another person's stereo installation to see how I should have done it. That guy had $100,000 worth of equipment and time invested into his car. He used lasers to find dead spots of sound in his car so it was perfect. I almost had a cow when he said that. He
should have compared my car installation and such against the class I was competing in, not against someone in unlimited professional class!!!
I nev er see car magazines review the latest offering Ferrari has to a VW Bug!! It makes no sense, does it??
Not starting a flame war here, just trying to put things back into perspective!! If you like what you have, use it! If you don't like what someone else has, keeping
that particular opinion to yourself might be a viable option.
if you feel the need to flame this post, please PM it to me to keep it out of the public forum!!