Several months ago I posted a question to the group about which CD player I should get. The replies seemed to favor the Sony XA5400. I still haven't pulled the trigger. I guess I have a nagging decision in my mind....go for the Sony or move to a computer based system like a Mac Mini and the Ayre QB-9. So....now for my round 2 question. I'm not sure that I'm ready to jump into the cost of the Mac-Mini plus the Ayre. I'm OK with the price of the Sony but I'm wondering if its beyond the level of my current system. Speakers are NHT Classic 4s, and I'm using the NHT Power 5 to drive them and the Adcom GFP-750 as the preamp for stereo. Its a shared 2CH/HT system and the Adcom lets me bypass to the HT portion. I'm currently using an inexpensive Sony BluRay player as my 2 channel source and feel like I'm missing a lot of music and detail. Since I know I'd eventually like to get to the computer based system is the Sony still the way to go or do I have a viable (less expensive) alternative that I wouldn't feel like I've compromised too much? Would somethng like the Oppo BDP-83SE or a less expensive CD player get me there....or am I going to regret not buying the Sony?
Several months ago I posted a question to the group about which CD player I should get. The replies seemed to favor the Sony XA5400. I still haven't pulled the trigger. I guess I have a nagging decision in my mind....go for the Sony or move to a computer based system like a Mac Mini and the Ayre QB-9. So....now for my round 2 question. I'm not sure that I'm ready to jump into the cost of the Mac-Mini plus the Ayre. I'm OK with the price of the Sony but I'm wondering if its beyond the level of my current system. Speakers are NHT Classic 4s, and I'm using the NHT Power 5 to drive them and the Adcom GFP-750 as the preamp for stereo. Its a shared 2CH/HT system and the Adcom lets me bypass to the HT portion. I'm currently using an inexpensive Sony BluRay player as my 2 channel source and feel like I'm missing a lot of music and detail. Since I know I'd eventually like to get to the computer based system is the Sony still the way to go or do I have a viable (less expensive) alternative that I wouldn't feel like I've compromised too much? Would somethng like the Oppo BDP-83SE or a less expensive CD player get me there....or am I going to regret not buying the Sony?