inexpensive transport for new HP system

[sorcer]

I'd like to get input for buying a cheap transport - or maybe something else/something more, but I'm not sure what's out there.

I'm getting a Zero DAC/Amp (thanks Penchum , and have splurged on HD-650 headphones (hopefully arriving tonight!).

I'm of the opinion (after verifying here) that I don't need an expensive machine to take information off of a CD and send it to my DAC. Even a cheap DVD player with digital audio outputs (coax or optical), will suffice. With that in mind, I've looked at buying, e.g., the Philips DVP3140 and the Coby DVD-224 - both under $30. The Philips seems better, as it will play MP3s up to 320 kbs, which I've read can be hard to differentiate from .WAVs.

So, what do you all think? It would be nice to find a cheap box with a HDD (I'd even build one if available) that I could put WAVs or FLACs on that would feed my DAC, but that's probably too expensive? I don't have $300 for the Wadia for my 3rd gen iPod either.
I also know that the DVD players are pretty slow with CDs in there, so I'm open to alternatives to the two I mentioned, even if they're a bit more expensive. I already have a computer, and will be using that, but I'd like for my headphone setup to not have to live near the computer. I don't think my DAC will convert SACD/DVD audio either, or I'd consider buying something that could read/output those formats.

So... I'm thinking I'll probably just buy an inexpensive DVD player, unless someone has a better idea...

edit: I heard the Zero (or any 24 bit/192kbs DAC?) will work with sacd/dvd-a discs. So that changes things. I'd like to get a transport that would spit out digital signals for all three formats (CD/SACD/DVD-A). I don't think I'll find a cheap DVD player to do that, will I?

Thanks.

Steve

 

[sorcer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorcer /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'd like to get input for buying a cheap transport - or maybe something else/something more, but I'm not sure what's out there. I'm getting a Zero DAC/Amp (thanks Penchum , and have splurged on HD-650 headphones (hopefully arriving tonight!). I'm of the opinion (after verifying here) that I don't need an expensive machine to take information off of a CD and send it to my DAC. Even a cheap DVD player with digital audio outputs (coax or optical), will suffice. With that in mind, I've looked at buying, e.g., the Philips DVP3140 and the Coby DVD-224 - both under $30. The Philips seems better, as it will play MP3s up to 320 kbs, which I've read can be hard to differentiate from .WAVs. So, what do you all think? It would be nice to find a cheap box with a HDD (I'd even build one if available) that I could put WAVs or FLACs on that would feed my DAC, but that's probably too expensive? I don't have $300 for the Wadia for my 3rd gen iPod either. I also know that the DVD players are pretty slow with CDs in there, so I'm open to alternatives to the two I mentioned, even if they're a bit more expensive. I already have a computer, and will be using that, but I'd like for my headphone setup to not have to live near the computer. I don't think my DAC will convert SACD/DVD audio either, or I'd consider buying something that could read/output those formats. So... I'm thinking I'll probably just buy an inexpensive DVD player, unless someone has a better idea... edit: I heard the Zero (or any 24 bit/192kbs DAC?) will work with sacd/dvd-a discs. So that changes things. I'd like to get a transport that would spit out digital signals for all three formats (CD/SACD/DVD-A). I don't think I'll find a cheap DVD player to do that, will I? Thanks. Steve

BUMP. I think I'm more interested in trying to get something that plays at least CD and one other format, if not both..