CDP Madness

[henry]

A few years ago, I bought an Onkyo C-7030 CDP once hearing that Randall of KY thought it was good.  I respect his ears and his honesty is golden.  I thought at $140, this is a steal.  I bought two from amaboon for a little over $100 for use in secondary systems.

Randy, as usual, was correct.  I was very happy with the accuracy and overall ease these things could bring.  As Ed says: "it just sounded right".

Evidently folks have caught on to this little gem and now prices are getting foolish since it appears they have been discontinued.  I guess this is the dead superstar syndrome where you're more lucrative dead than alive.  Weird stuff. 

My point is that if I was seeking an inexpensive way to play my "old man" redbooks, I'd go for a used single disk CDP with proper outputs and get a highly reviewed, inexpensive DAC to handle the conversion duty.  I seems advances in technology are closing the gap between great and good equipment.  That extra 2-3% is very costly.

I have a very nice DAC and it does make a difference, but not that much.

Look out, there are some highly reviewed DACs that suck (Schiit Modi3 for one).  Cheap with a nice case.  And that's how it sounds.  I gave mine away.  There's a Schiit/fan joke somewhere in there. 

I'd like to find a good streamer at a good price.  I do run tidal through a laptop through a small USB DAC and it's good.  But, a one box, affordable device would be nice.  Any thoughts?

Henry... bored and preaching to the crowd again. 

[sonic]

Look out, there are some highly reviewed DACs that suck (Schiit Modi3 for one).  Cheap with a nice case.  And that's how it sounds.  I gave mine away.  There's a Schiit/fan joke somewhere in there. 

It may measure well but the distortions are way below audible range, even further below than standard run of the mill DACs which are already below audible range.  People are paying extra for status symbol or bragging rights when it comes to DAC.

[henry]

Yep, but maybe the output stage makes the difference.  I don't know, but I hear differences and so does my "bat-eared" wife.

I do know that power matters.  I saw that at Ed's place once with the old ODAC.

[sonic]

Often when people hear difference between DACs and amps, it's due to level (output) mismatch.  Those devices' voltage at the output terminals vary even when the input is the same.  In order to listen at the matched level (for objective listening test), it has to be adjusted within 0.1 db for each device with appropriate potentiometer at line level.  I know that not many people have the means to set up such rig but when they do, the results are often surprising.

[henry]

sonic, I don't want to turn this into a "audiosciencereview" episode.   

Does anyone have a good streamer recommendation?

[sonic]

sonic, I don't want to turn this into a "audiosciencereview" episode.   

  Knowing amirm's past, that's a paradox.

As for streamer, sorry, I don't have any recommendations since I don't use any.

[henry]

I've looked for streamers and I'm amazed at the prices; even the modest offerings.  I guess I'll stick with my laptop with a hardwire to the DAC for the foreseeable future.  I realize these things are little computers that offer remote control, convenience, etc... 

Maybe I can qualify for some gov't assistance if I claim I have issues with periodically getting off the sofa and walking 8ft to the computer.  Eureka!