gwjensen
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Joined: Oct 9 2014 - 3:58pm
System improvement advise, please
jgossman
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I'd recommend compliment your amp with a DacMagic 100. It's very good, regardless of price, and would upgrade your CD and computer. In my looking around the internet for ways to upgrade my 551p phono amp, I've learned there are quite a few people out there getting even better results from many many Cambridge Audio products by getting rid of the cheap Chinese caps and replacing them with Panasonic and Elna.

My audio dealer speaks very highly of the DacMagic and that jives with everything else I've heard of the product.

gwjensen
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Thanks, jgossman. I've heard good things about that DAC as well.

bierfeldt
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Joined: Oct 26 2007 - 2:30pm

Nothing says you have to have separate CD player, DAC and Bluray player. I don't know what your budget is , but the Oppo BDP 105 would replace all these in one stroke. It is not cheap at $1100 but it is a truly fabulous, feature packed unit.

Exceptional Blu-ray player. Audiophile grade CD player and a mind bogglingly good DAC for the money. Inputs and outputs, networked and provides streaming services including UPnP so you can stream directly from your Apple or Pandora & Netflix.

I won't say it is the last Blu-ray player that you will buy. It is the last Blu-ray player you will buy until Oppo comes out with the BDP 115.

I am seriously considering one at the moment though my system(s) are advanced enough where the majority of features are redundant to other high end components which is what is holding me back.

Alternatively, a Network player can offer a nice alternative to a plain DAC and eliminates the need to manipulate music on your PC. The Cambridge StreamMagic 6 and Pioneer Elite NP-50 are both great units with exceptional DACs. One nice thing about the Pioneer is that it is Airplay enabled and longer term, the Cambridge has balanced outputs which is super appealing. The Cambridge is $799 at Needledoctor and the Pioneer Elite is $699 and can be had at any Pioneer Elite dealer.

If you do opt for an external, standalone DAC, the DacMagic 100 from Cambridge is great. Also look at the Peachtree DAC iTx. They are the same price at NeedleDoctor, $299.

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