CD Player/DAC Combo

[JohnNB]

Anyone know of a cd player with on board DAC that takes a USB input and plays High Res files? I'll be needing to replace my cdp soon and also thinking of upgrading my Arcam rDAC for something that plays 24/192 res files. Can I get an all in one unit?

[struth]

Oppo i guess is best bet.

[JohnNB]

Thanks Grant. Just had a look at the Oppo BDP105D on line. It's bit over my price range, and it looks like a 3D Blue Ray player with cd attached, so it might be wasted purely as an hi fi separate. Also I read somewhere that the cd quality was similar to the Marantz CD6006. For a grand I'd expect a notch or two up from that. The Marantz apparently has the capability of playing hi res files through a USB stick, so maybe that's the route to go.

[Yomanze]

Personally I'd get a DAC with 2x digital (SPDIF) inputs (or 1x SPDIF & 1x USB input), a cheap but good CD transport, and hook up your computer via the other socket (perhaps you'd need a USB to SPDIF converter too). This solution is much more future proof & means that the pain of CD transports breaking down is less severe. :P

[plastic penguin]

Anyone know of a cd player with on board DAC that takes a USB input and plays High Res files? I'll be needing to replace my cdp soon and also thinking of upgrading my Arcam rDAC for something that plays 24/192 res files. Can I get an all in one unit?


The only one that I know, and ticks most of your boxes is Audiolab CD 8200

http://www.audiolab.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=8

[JohnNB]

My rDAC has an optical, a coaxial and a USB input, but only plays 24/96 res files. I could get the irDAC, which plays 24/192, but need another cdp for the 2nd system and I'd like a cdp that plays SACDs. I've looked at the the Marantz SA8005, which ticks all my boxes, and gets good reviews. Richard' s suggestion of the Audiolab 8200 looks like the right sort of thing too. I'll have a look at that, but does it play SA8005?

[Qwin]

USB isn't the best way of sending high res files, maybe you should consider that part of the equation.

SPDIF output over optical/coax or i2S over BNC or AES options?

Have a read of some of the latest developments before you dive in and spend your hard earned.

Even the humble Raspberry Pie caters for some of these better quality outputs.

Google Hifiberry digi+Pro and see some of the topics discussed, (I'm considering this route).
This is the digi+Pro spdif output board for the RPi 3B that also has i2S BNC capability: https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/hifiberry-digi-pro/

[Maouna]

Hi John check out the AUSTRALIAN GEISELER KLEIN DACS I think one of them would be suitable for your needs .OH did I mention that they are GIANT KILLERS .

[JohnNB]

I hadn't heard of the connection types you mention Ken so looked them up. Articles on AES and BNC don't mention playing music files, and playing music files on the Raspberry Pi is not included in an article listing 20 things you can do with the Pi, so no the wiser there either. An article on the iPS looked promising, but very technical. Do you know if any of these alternatives for linking a PC to a DAC available as hi fi equipment?

[JohnNB]

Thanks Con All comments on the Gieseler K are positive. Can't find a supplier in UK though, but will contact company in Aus.

[Sherwood]

If usb is not essential you might consider one of these, the Cambridge Audio Azure 840c. It has exceptional build quality and was way ahead of its time with hires upsampling.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/cambridge-audio-azur-840c-cd-player/

I have long since digitised my cd collection but for some time after that continued to use the excellent DAC (Dual Wolfson DACs) part of this player. I only stopped using mine when I upgraded my music streamer.

If you are interested I may be willing to sell my pristine condition unit, but would first have to check out its current market value.

Geoff

[Maouna]

Hi John,please try to contact Gieseler in Australia if I remember his name is Glen. He has bought out some new models as well. He is a small business but he has been around for awhile in the audio industry and his products are outstanding for their price,from what I know he has no suppliers around so it's direct from him hope this helped abit regards Con

[Spectral Morn]

Anyone know of a cd player with on board DAC that takes a USB input and plays High Res files? I'll be needing to replace my cdp soon and also thinking of upgrading my Arcam rDAC for something that plays 24/192 res files. Can I get an all in one unit?

AMR CD777 CD player has what you require, and it should be possible to pick an ex demo, used one for a good price. Its not as good as its big brother the CD77 (I used to own a pre USB input version the mk1) but it will give you about 92% of what its big brother does regarding CD playback. The CD777's PC audio ability will be better I think.

http://www.amr-audio.co.uk/html/cd777_individual.html

Possibly too early still for ex demo/used market deals but the Esoteric K05 also looks excellent regarding spec http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/k05/indexe.html Only caveat I would give is that Esoteric mechanisms are fairly noisy replaying SACDs. So if you sit beside it, well the AMR would be a better option.

[roob]

This http://www.chevronaudio.co.uk/html/sabre_player_dac.html
I have one and it is superb

[JohnNB]

Thanks Geoff. The 840 would be a solution if there is any other way of connecting it to the laptop other than through a USB cable- perhaps a USB/Optical or Co-axial converter if such a thing exists? Also, I'm not sure what the upsampling actually does - does it play cds at a higher sample rate?
Let me know what sort of price you have in mind. On ebay they're going from £38 to £450, which doesn't help much!

[JohnNB]

The AMR sounds like a fantastic player Neil, but can't see any 2nd hand, and even then it would probably be way over my price limit given that it was over 3 grand new. I'll keep looking though!

[simon g]

Marantz SA8005. Under £600 new. Plays CDs, SACD, USB and other digital in, 24/192 and even DSD over USB.

Well built, sounds really good, nice to operate, proper warranty.

[JohnNB]

I'm interested in the Marantz Simon. How much was you thinking?

[simon g]

I'm interested in the Marantz Simon. How much was you thinking?

Sorry, John - I was making a recommendation, not trying to sell one! I have had an SA8005 in the past; they're really very good and great value, IMO.

[struth]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marantz-SA8005-players-20000-audio/dp/B00I96CB7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488638260&sr=8-1&keywords=marantz+sa8005

One here new going cheep cheep

Well there was, someone just bought it lol

[Fulci]

Creek 50CD and 100CD, moon, AVM, Rega Saturn-R, Musical Fidelity, Yamaha. I think most of the new CD players come with digital inputs nowadays.

[degsy]

Cambridge Audio CXU universal player with excellent DACs and good value.

[JohnNB]

Thanks Derek. I didn't know about the CXU. I've actually bought a 2nd hand Cambridge 840C from someone on this site, but it's not working. I'm hoping to resolve this issue with the seller before considering alternatives. If I can't resolve it my budget will be seriously depleted and I'll probably have to wait for a while before having the funds to buy something else.
John

[JohnNB]

That's a comprehensive list of possibilities Pedro that I may work through if I can resolve issues I mention to Derek below with a 2nd hand cdp I've bought. Thanks.