prionsarebad
100+ Head-Fier
Hello all.
I am hoping to get some advice on decision I need to make which is basically about how much better (or not) modern dacs are Vs older dacs for sound quality and whether the upgrade outlay is really worth it.
When I got back into HiFi music a while back I needed to buy a CD player since I have a very large CD collection (mostly classical but also conentional pop/rock etc) and I had given away my Cambridge Audio CD player years ago.
I was lucky to find somebody selling a nice condition 2nd hand Marantz CD 6000OSE for only £50 close to me. I was very happy. I paired this with a JDS labs Atom amp and massdrop 58X cans. These have now been supplemented with the incredicle Fidelio X2HR and a small tube amp.
Although the Marantz was/is a highly rated CD player I had been wondering how good the DAC set up in it (2x SM5872BS) was compared to something much newer like the very highly rated Khadas tone board and whether this might be a decent upgrade. I can get the Khadas + case + S/PDIF cable for ~£120.
In terms of quality comparison I found this very nice review that compares the Khadas to an older Denon player. Based on this review it seems that Khadas is a very sensible, cost effective upgrade:
However, at the back of my mind is that my second hand CD player is now nearly 20 years old and I have no idea of its likely longevity. If it fails, having bought the Khadas, I would have to source and buy a replacement transport.
Which brings me onto the Marantz C6006 UK edition. This is rated as possibly the best <$500 CD player out there and this can now be purchased in the UK for £300. The reviews are fantastic and describe a sound which sounds similar to reviews of the sound quality that comes out of the Khadas.
So, do I:
A) do nothing, and just replace the CD player as and when it dies.
B) purchase the Khadas tone board and accessories for ~£120.
C) purchase the Marantz CD6006 UK edition for £300.
Happy to hear all opinions on upgrade approaches/philosophies, and of course any opinions on the likely merits / compariosns of the products discussed.
Thanks in advance!
I am hoping to get some advice on decision I need to make which is basically about how much better (or not) modern dacs are Vs older dacs for sound quality and whether the upgrade outlay is really worth it.
When I got back into HiFi music a while back I needed to buy a CD player since I have a very large CD collection (mostly classical but also conentional pop/rock etc) and I had given away my Cambridge Audio CD player years ago.
I was lucky to find somebody selling a nice condition 2nd hand Marantz CD 6000OSE for only £50 close to me. I was very happy. I paired this with a JDS labs Atom amp and massdrop 58X cans. These have now been supplemented with the incredicle Fidelio X2HR and a small tube amp.
Although the Marantz was/is a highly rated CD player I had been wondering how good the DAC set up in it (2x SM5872BS) was compared to something much newer like the very highly rated Khadas tone board and whether this might be a decent upgrade. I can get the Khadas + case + S/PDIF cable for ~£120.
In terms of quality comparison I found this very nice review that compares the Khadas to an older Denon player. Based on this review it seems that Khadas is a very sensible, cost effective upgrade:
However, at the back of my mind is that my second hand CD player is now nearly 20 years old and I have no idea of its likely longevity. If it fails, having bought the Khadas, I would have to source and buy a replacement transport.
Which brings me onto the Marantz C6006 UK edition. This is rated as possibly the best <$500 CD player out there and this can now be purchased in the UK for £300. The reviews are fantastic and describe a sound which sounds similar to reviews of the sound quality that comes out of the Khadas.
So, do I:
A) do nothing, and just replace the CD player as and when it dies.
B) purchase the Khadas tone board and accessories for ~£120.
C) purchase the Marantz CD6006 UK edition for £300.
Happy to hear all opinions on upgrade approaches/philosophies, and of course any opinions on the likely merits / compariosns of the products discussed.
Thanks in advance!