NAD 542 to 545 or 565 or dac.. is it a sidestep

[biggus_1961]

have not had a chance to listen to C545 or c565 cd players and was wondering if there is any difference or are all so close it would just be a sideways step

Would a dac be a better way to go so that i can play itunes through it be a better way to go..

Dacmagic etc are they too a sideways step when compared with the NAD c542 player ?

 

[jaxwired]

The 545 outclasses the 565. They are completely different internally. I tried them both side by side at home and preferred the 545.

Regarding how the 545 compares to the 542, I'm not sure. I doubt it's a major improvement, but you'd have to try it and see.

I do think a DAC would be a better investment as long as your 542 is still working perfectly. CD players do tend to get fussy with age...

 

[d_a_n1979]

As per Jax's comments really; I'm massively impressed with the NAD C545BEE CDP currently and I'll even go as far that it's as good, if not better in some parts, as the Rega Apollo!!!

IMO though I do think it'd be more of a sideways step coming from the NAD C542 as that was and still is a damn fine CDP!

A good DAC may open things up for you but in all honesty I cant see you getting better unless you went for the Cyrus 6SE CDP or along those lines and budget!

 

[Anonymous]

The NAD C545BEE that i`ve had (2nd one mind you!!) for nearly a year is sonically brilliant for the money and really does let CD`s breathe!! i`ve tried mine with my Meridian 203 DAC (mind you... that unit is 20year old !!!) and have to say the NAD C545BEE sounds better as a standalone player than using the Meridian 203DAC.

On audition I listened to other players including a CYRUS transport with the Meridian DAC and I couldn`t stand the "forwardness" of the sound , it was too "tiring to listen to over a period" and didn`t suit my particular listening , so I opted for the NAD.

Jotaboy

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going down the itunes route, then purchasing either the beresford caiman or the dacmagic would be just the ticket in my opinion.

 

[Anonymous]

I like the C565BEE over the C545BEE, but not by a huge amount. I just think of the price difference as extra for the added digital in (the C565BEE can work as a DAC).

 

[nads]

well as i have the 542 and a Dac Magic. I have to say it is very hard to spot any difference between the 542 on-board Dacs and the Dac Magic.

But i hardly use the 542 as i rip all the CD and play back via a
Squeezebox and the Dac Magic I can tell the difference between the Squeezebox Dacs and the Dac Magic Dacs.

have fun.

 

[biggus_1961]

thanks guy's for your replies

I have an apple imac and notice it has a digital out , is there a way of getting anolouge out so that i can use anologue in on the NAD 355 stereo amp. (wifi would be ideal as my computer is in a different room to the stereo)

 

[Anonymous]

If you have the flat panel iMac, that has an optical digital out (mini toslink afaik). Just hook that up with something like the C565BEE or almost any other external DAC that would accept PCM via optical, and you should be set.