CD player usable as DAC

[ID.]

Planning to buy a CEC CD3800 (sorry, not even sure if it is available in the UK), but they are currently sold out. Being a bit impatient, I have been wondering what alternative solutions there might be.

Apart from sounding great and being a very reasonable price (although not belt driven like their more expensive CDPs) part of what made it so attractive was the ability to use its DAC and not having to buy a separate DAC for various digital sources

http://www.cec-international.de/PAGES/s53.html

So what other products are there out there that provide this kind of flexibility? I know the Marantz PM6003 has its IPod connection. Peachtree audio nova? Anything else (other than HT amps).

Cheers

 

[RCduck7]

The Harman Kardon hd990 and cambridge Audio has one with a DAC i believe.

 

[Anonymous]

Cambridge Audio 740C and 840C

NAD C565BEE

 

[John Duncan]

What's Joel's? Unison Research Unico?

 

[Anonymous]

If you are feeling a bit flush with cash how about a moon 750? (that will be about £8,500 worth of DAC and transport)

 

[ID.]

Thanks for all the feedback. Unfortunately Cambridge audio doesn't seem to be available in where I am (Japan), not sure about NAD. Interesting here, I can get the Japanese brands at great prices and see stuff that doesn't make it overseas much, but some of the brands that are ubiquitous in the UK or even in my native Australia are almost never seen here or imported in tiny quantities. Arcam used to be distributed by Denon but got dropped just around the time the solo mini came out (Denon didn't want the competition in that market segment?), thought about buying Proac studio 110s but they are brought in by a small importer and sold for the same price as B&W 805s... but these are complaints for another thread perhaps.

The moon looks good, but if I was feeling that flush (and had more room) I think there's a few Luxman digital players I'd happily buy and be left with some change. I think a bit more exploring of hifi retailers and a little patience are needed on my part

 

[Anonymous]

Cairn fog 3. Yum!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Denon have a good looking CD/SACD player with digital inputs.

 

[The_Lhc]

Wandering around Sevenoaks in Bristol yesterday I noticed one of these:

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/M6-Series/M6CD/m6cd.asp

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/M6-Series/M6CD/m6cd.aspI can't remember the price though and it doesn't appear to be listed under the Bristol store's website. I think it was into 4 figures though.

 

[Anonymous]

esoteric sa-50, it's a unique sounding player(it has the usual esoteric house sound, this one uses 32bits chip, does 2x, 4x and DSD upsampling, it is very very smooth sounding), with the latest digital filter, top notch sound! OR i heard one of the new luxman has digital in as well. I have owned CEC myself, it's musical and warm but esoteric is in a higher league, i am sure u get a hold of esoteric 2nd hand in Japan.

Andy

 

[ID.]

Cheers karmatogdra Luxman's SA/CD players do indeed have digital inputs and I was fantasizing about a big, chunky Luxman system, but too big, and a little more than I want to pay. Budget didnt stop me listening to to an Esoteric CD player set up with a Marantz amp today, loel, neutral and very very clear and alive.

Actually, my new plan is the esoteric RZ-1

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/rz1/indexe.html

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/rz1/indexe.htmlEntry level, but for around 2000 pounds at the current exchange rate ticks a lot of boxes for me budget (still 3 times the rice of the entry level CEC kit) and space-wise (the family will appreciate fewer cables and boxes in the living room). Great resolution and dynamics, very neutral. A little lean on some recordings I thought, but then I started fiddling with the tone controls and liked what I heard. Digital amplification, which I've never really heard much before. I'll have to start looking at how it compares to setting myself up with some of the luxman and esoteric kit I like 2nd hand.