My next source/transport

[PFKMan23]

Just kind of grasping at straws ATM, but I'm at a point where the bottleneck in my rig seems to be my source/transport. Currently I'm using my Onix as a transport (to my Lavry) and I was thinking about something like a Sony 9100ES (which probaly would go in for SACD mods at some point) or something like a Denon 3910 or so... Any other players I should be considering?

[Dusty Chalk]

First you need to narrow your search some. Here are the questions you should be asking yourself (looks like you already are): universal or redbook? Price range? New or used?

Here's what I would do:

< US$1K - Rega Apollo

> US$1K - Arcam FMJ CD33T or whatever it's being called now, or Meridian G08

>> US$1K - Linn or Ayre universal

[PFKMan23]

As of now, I'm looking at more universal stuff (hence the leanings towoards the 9100ES and the Denon), although Todd's review/impressions of the Opus really have me thinking. As far as price range goes, when all is said and done I suppose something under 2K USD should do nicely. Obviously in the case of the 9100 ES, a Denon like the 3910, the base price won't nearly go that far but if you get it modded it would... As far as new or used goes, used is fine, as I did get my Onix used. To that end, I've been browsing Agon, to give me a sense of what is out there, as if I do go the full tilt (I figure the earliest I'd be truly itching to drop the 2k would probably be in September or October, but given my indecisiveness, starting now would be good), it'll be a while...

[Yikes]

I use to be of the opinion that the transport didn?t matter nearly as much as the D/A. I believed that the resultant sound quality was due to 90% D/A and 10% transport. Then I did a demo that was truly eye opening.

The D/A was the one built into the Sunfire Home Theater Pre-amp Processor. The two players that acted as the transports were; the best Arcam DVD Player (FMJ? $2200?), and the $4200 Meridian DVD Player. So obviously the D/A was not reference quality, but the equipment involved was of decent quality.

Short and sweet. The difference was not subtle. With the meridian the system sounded MUCH better. The customer was not an audiophile, and he gladly ponied up the money for the Meridian. So the difference was significant enough for a non-audiophile (i.e. Non-critical) to hear and appreciate the difference.

I came away from this demo with a radically different opinion of the relative importance of the D/A and the associated transport. I now believe that it?s more in the range of 50/50. I came away impressed with the performance of the Meridian DVD player as a transport, and decidedly unimpressed with the Arcam.

Once I get my Denon 3910 (Exemplar) back I?ll be able to compare it to my Pioneer 563 as a transport, but such a comparison doesn?t help much here. In essence the Transport to D/A interface is very system dependent. I wouldn?t assume that a specific player is a good transport. Auditioning is critical, especially with the D/A that you?ll be using.

Also don?t underestimate the impact of the digital cable that is used. Always use coax over TOS link. TOS truly sucks.

[PFKMan23]

Honestly if I get a Denon 3910, Sony 9100 ES or whatever, I'll probably put the Lavry on computer duty, especially if I get the thing modded, which would be the case with a Denon or Sony. Although I am intrigued by a Denon or a (100ES combo with my Lavry..