Hi all . . . I'm looking to do the deed soon . . . Swap the venerable Rotel 820 for a new intigrated amp . . . quite what that will be is still a little bit of a ???? . . . although it looks like the new Rega Brio and Crofts Valve/Fet hybrid will be front runners? . . . denoting my price bracket. Aranged a listening session at the end of September, long way off, however I have things to do to my music room/study befor and my friendly dealer is on holiday, so its the best time for both, I'm in no hurry, waited 15+ years so a few more weeks is nothing. The question is regards DAC . . . curently I use the computer as my source, CD's, Spotify etc. The plan is to keep the computer for down loads, I have a DCA between computer and amp. The plan is to go direct to the Amp with a CD player, yet to choose which one? The idea is best quality sound . . . old fashon thinking :? I presume CD players have on board DCA?? or do they need/benefit from an in line DCA? Or is it better to go through the computer with the CD player via a USB??? I have to admit I'm listening at the moment to a CD on the computer transport, compared to what I get from Spotify, its priety dam good, IMHO. As I dont yet have a dedicated CD, I cant make any comparisons? Sorry for my simplicity on the matter, I dont understand new fangled computer stuff . . . I fear a loss of ultimate sound quality by going that rout? 'ultimate' in term of getting the best from what I 'will' have. Unfortunatly my dealer is also lives in the year dot, specialising in 'how it used to be type sound' like me, he is an old type audiofile, even older than I am We have known each other since 1980, one of my early hi fi mentors. CJSF