Upgrade path: New CDP or old CDP + DAC?

[desmo]

From a Rotel 1070. Leaning towards a DAC due to USB input but which DAC?

[JackD201]

For the money my vote goes to Benchmark.

[highlander]

Hunt for MF A324 .....award winning...been using it for a long time

[Gau_Ban]

I'd upgrade a CD player only if the drive needs replacement. If the player is still mechanically sound, than I'd say buy a DAC.

Which USB DAC? It depends on which inputs/outputs you need, portability and budget.

[rtsyrtsy]

I've just concluded a home audition of Naim's Unitiqute and Supernait.

I won't bore you with the amp section since you're question is about the DAC.

So I'll share the most relevant bit: the Unitiqute used as a pre-amp feeding the CJ's proved fantastic and is in my option space. This I think is a testament to Naim's good digital and analog output stages.

I've not home auditioned it but everything I read about Naim's nDAC indicate that it is better than the Supernait's DAC section. Net, try the nDAC.

[desmo]

Appreciate the suggestions gents. Highlander, the A324 upsampler was once on my "buy" list but that was a looooong time ago . Heard is was very good at extracting details.

Russ, the Naim DAC is surely one that I'd love to own but alas, purchasing it will put too much strain on my rapidly shrinking audio upgrade funds, hehe. I am looking at the Bel Canto 1.5 that Jack recommended, the Peach Tree iDAC, and some others with streaming capabilities. The more options the better.

Seems a new CDP is out of the running.

[Stealth]

U can also check out Onix DAC25a. Its USB input is capable of 24/96khz playback. However, i'm using its digital coax input via M2tech hiface from my laptop to the DAC. Very happy with this setup.

[hypertriode]

Hi desmo,
Check out the new Musical Fidelity M1 dac reviews. Then visit my shop and hear what you've read about

[knoxv]

sir, how about audiolab 8200CD? i'm using this as my cd player and at the same time as my DAC for my digital music.

http://www.audiolab.co.uk/ProductDetail ... ab2=8200CD

[desmo]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, Rene, Stealth, & knoxv. I've decided to get the Bel Canto DAC 1.5.

[rtsyrtsy]

Congrats! May you have many, many hours of listening pleasure.

[desmo]

Thanks Russ. I'm sure I will.

[egay]

Hunt for MF A324 .....award winning...been using it for a long time

well, this may seem late BUT
+1 for the A324

.e.