CD with internal DAC player vs turntable/cartridge cost

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Skyscraper

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I've recently been upgrading my entire system. I do have mostly vinyl records purchased in the pre-cd days. To play them I upgraded my old Bang and Olufsen Beogram 4004 turntable to a VPI Classic 2SE with an Ortofon 2M black mm cartridge, roughly $5000 retail together. When record stores started disappearing I started buying CDs (the redbook variety). I have maybe 130 of them in that collection, which is growing, unlike my vinyl record collection, since I won't routinely pay $25 for a single vinyl record. My question is, in order to upgrade my current CD/SACD player with internal DAC, to be roughly equivalent to the quality of the VPI/Ortofon combination, generally speaking, what type of monetary investment should I be considering? I have read, and was hoping, that pound for pound, digital sound reproduction equipment was more economical in cost than analog. I'm not interested in streaming digital sources at this point, just a simple CD/SACD player with internal DAC, before they go the way of the dinosaur. Thanks for your help. I hope this question isn't too vague or unanswerable.

Mike
 
Skyscraper said:
I've recently been upgrading my entire system. I do have mostly vinyl records purchased in the pre-cd days. To play them I upgraded my old Bang and Olufsen Beogram 4004 turntable to a VPI Classic 2SE with an Ortofon 2M black mm cartridge, roughly $5000 retail together. When record stores started disappearing I started buying CDs (the redbook variety). I have maybe 130 of them in that collection, which is growing, unlike my vinyl record collection, since I won't routinely pay $25 for a single vinyl record. My question is, in order to upgrade my current CD/SACD player with internal DAC, to be roughly equivalent to the quality of the VPI/Ortofon combination, generally speaking, what type of monetary investment should I be considering? I have read, and was hoping, that pound for pound, digital sound reproduction equipment was more economical in cost than analog. I'm not interested in streaming digital sources at this point, just a simple CD/SACD player with internal DAC, before they go the way of the dinosaur. Thanks for your help. I hope this question isn't too vague or unanswerable.

Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike - welcome to AS. If you can swing the Luxman 509x, it’s a keeper for a very very long time and very “analog” sounding and handles SACD. If you’re looking at the $5K range, take a look at the ARC CD players. Also, a real gem is the EAR CD players: http://www.ear-usa.com/ear-source-components#CD Wow, I still remember listening to the EAR CD player and being completely blown away by it. Another gem is the tube Luxman D-380 CD player: http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=12
 
You're welcome Joe

Mike, I did order A Luxman L-507uXII integrated amp only yesterday to power my Magico A3's. Not quite as nice as the 509x, but within my means. To reply to your post, I'm not saying that I'm looking in the $5000 range for a CD /SACD player with an integrated DAC. I want to find the range I should be in to have a CD player comparable in sound quality to my $5000 range VPI Classic 2SE/Ortofon Black 2m, turntable/cartridge combo. I don't know if a comparable digital source like a CD player would be more or less costly than an analog turntable. Am I making sense? I read somewhere you can get more for less with digital, which is why I ask.

Mike
 
Skyscraper said:
You're welcome Joe

Mike, I did order A Luxman L-507uXII integrated amp only yesterday to power my Magico A3's. Not quite as nice as the 509x, but within my means. To reply to your post, I'm not saying that I'm looking in the $5000 range for a CD /SACD player with an integrated DAC. I want to find the range I should be in to have a CD player comparable in sound quality to my $5000 range VPI Classic 2SE/Ortofon Black 2m, turntable/cartridge combo. I don't know if a comparable digital source like a CD player would be more or less costly than an analog turntable. Am I making sense? I read somewhere you can get more for less with digital, which is why I ask.

Mike
Click to expand...

I am very interested in hearing your review of the Luxman Integrated. It's price is in my wheel house when I decide to sell my BAT and Pass preamp and amp. I would pair well with my Luxman DAC.

This Marantz CD player might fit your needs-

https://www.musicdirect.com/disc-player/Marantz-SA-KI-RUBY-SACDCD-Player-and-DAC

Cograts!

Larry
 
Skyscraper said:
You're welcome Joe

Mike, I did order A Luxman L-507uXII integrated amp only yesterday to power my Magico A3's. Not quite as nice as the 509x, but within my means. To reply to your post, I'm not saying that I'm looking in the $5000 range for a CD /SACD player with an integrated DAC. I want to find the range I should be in to have a CD player comparable in sound quality to my $5000 range VPI Classic 2SE/Ortofon Black 2m, turntable/cartridge combo. I don't know if a comparable digital source like a CD player would be more or less costly than an analog turntable. Am I making sense? I read somewhere you can get more for less with digital, which is why I ask.

Mike
Click to expand...

Not a CD player option but $5k digital option nonetheless:
Roon $500
HQPlayer $150 (I think)
T+A DAC 8 DSD $4,300 (I think)
That’s about $5k.

Use HQPLAYER to upconvert all your digital to DSD512. (You do need a computer to run Roon/HQPLAYER).

That digital set up will outplay your analog rig.
 
If you can accommodate a top loader I would recommend one of the Ayon range.
 
Why not a transport of cheaper CD player and a good DAC like a Schiit Yggy, Chord Hugo, Luxman, etc.
 
Thanks for the link Larry. That would be a nice upgrade from my Marantz SA 8005 I'll be happy to let you know what I think of the Luxman. Unfortunately the speakers it will be powering, a pair of Magico A3's, are frustratingly back ordered through February of next year, so I won't have anything to report until then.

Mechnutt said:
Why not a transport of cheaper CD player and a good DAC like a Schiit Yggy, Chord Hugo, Luxman, etc.
Click to expand...

Mostly because I'm trying to stay away from separates, due to the ridiculously high price of good quailiy cables to connect them together. That why I've gotten the integrated Luxman amp rather than a separate pre-amp and amp like I've had for years. Makes more sense to me financially now. Those audiophile cables are screamingly high priced. Back in the 70's we all used zip cord and inexpensive RCA cables and never thought twice about it until Monster Cables came around at least. Back then the more separates the better.

Mike
 
Thanks for the suggestion nicoff. I really am only looking for an upgraded CD/SACD player to play the CD's I do have and continue to accumulate. I mostly have (well over a thousand records) purchased in the pre-CD days, and haven't really desired to have any streaming resources. I'm showing my age, 66 y/o, here. I have heard that digital sources have been catching up to, or in some cases have caught up to vinyl, as a high quality medium, which is a good thing. I like listening to music without the pop, clicks and scratches records seem to accumulate, no matter how well you care for them. Take it easy now,

Mike
 
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