I guess some of this depends on what you define "clarity" as. You mention that only the newest recordings sound clear -- it might help to know what these recordings are, or what some of the sonic attributes you find appealing in these newer recordings are, and what you feel the older ones lack. What do you feel you're not getting in terms of how the music is presented?

A DAC is simply a digital to analogue converter. An outboard DAC can vary in quality like anything else, but, can offer a path to better sound depending on its implementation, but, it is not without drawbacks.

Your source could very well be the bottleneck in your current system.

What kind of budget are we talking about? A new dedicated CD player would be more affordable than a quality DAC, also, the DVD player won't be great for stereo audio, and may not have the right digital output you need.

Josh

Following your logic, the problem lies with the recordings themselves, doesn't it? Tell us about them - how old?, what labels?, etc.
I suspect you'll get superior CD playback on everything with a new dedicated CD player. Your budget of about $300 will get you a new Marantz CD5001 or a Cambridge Audio 340C, both of which offer excellent quality for the price. I'd pick the Marantz.

Best of luck,

The DV 6400 is an excellent choice. I own one (as well as an SA-8001). The 6400 was a REAL improvement sonically over typical $200-$300 cd and dvd players I've owned. Clearly a step up musically. Less brittle highs, transparent sound, and decent low end once it's broken in. It plays everything under the sun without a glitch. You can buy them new online for $300!!! They were originally $600. (I paid $450 about a year ago.)

Now I'm using the SA 8001 for CDs and the DV 6400 for DVDs. I'm not big into video, but the picture/sound from the 6400 is noticeably better than the JVC it replaced.

Like Cheapskate says above, the 5001 could be a possibility for a CD (only) player. I haven't heard one or anything about them, though.

Quote:
The older cds seem like everything is coming from one place.

Phil Spector made this recording method popular, back in the 60's...it's called "The Wall of Sound".

I don't know that player, but between reviewer and MJS's evaluations, it looks to me like you've found a winner at a good price. Let us know how it turns out.

The January issue of The Absolute Sound has an article on a DVD/CD/SACD player that costs $149 (the OPPO DV-970), and which they are saying compares favorably with units costing over 10 times as much!!! They even made it their Budget Component of the Year!

For that magazine to comment favorably on anything costing less than $500 is pretty unusual, and for them to rave about it is very interesting! I think this unit is going to raise some eyebrows. If I were you I would look into that unit seriously.

Sounds like the quality of your CD playback machine could be way out of line with the rest of your system. I know there's been some buzz lately about how some cheapo DVD players sound really good. Don't know whether or not they're right. But I think you owe it to yourself to at least try a decent CD player on your system. My 5-year old Rotel RCD 951 CD player sounds an awful lot better than my 5-year-old DVD player when playing CDs. It also sounds much worse than my friends' high endy CD players.

You really can't be sure you don't like the sound of your CDs until you've tried listening through a good CD player.

Some of my "rock" CD's have muddy guitars and highs that sometimes develop static. This makes listening to these particular CD's very annoying. Currently everything is being played through a Marantz DV6600, which I have been very happy with.

I really believe it has something to do with cheap recordings than poor equipment. But it does seem that better equipment brings out the worst or best in each recording.....At least, that is my interpretation.

I have a Lexicon RT20 on order and it should arrive early next week. I don't think the CD's that sound bad now, will sound any better with this player, but I could be wrong?

Mike