"Jim H" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 08 Dec 2003 13:38:26 GMT, Wally wrote:

Exactly. Providing it isn't broken, a cheap CD player should sound just as
good going into a good quality DAC as an expensive player with the same
DAC, otherwise it wouldn't pass the redbook standard and coldn't display
the CD logo.

A lot of people here are sort-of against outboard DACs, but I disagree, at
least on economic terms. With 4 digital sources in my hifi, I would have
preffered if none of them came with DACs so I could put the saving into
one really.


A mate brought his Arcam CD player (8 or 9, I think) round for a listen
last
night, and (as expected) it showed up my cheapie Schneider DVD/CD
wossname.
Much better clarity and definition, I thought. The bass especially was a
huge improvement.

Then I realised that the Schneider has digital outputs - coax and
optical -
and wondered if it's feasible to connect a DAC to these and maybe
approach
the sort of sound produced by the Arcam. A quick look in eBay indicates
that
there's a fair selection up to about £200.

Is this worth considering, or will the transport in the Schneider have a
deletrious effect in spite of whatever improvements a DAC wold bring? It
strikes me that the cheapest DVD/CD drive can deliver error-free digital
data to a computer, so one would think that a cheap transport in a CD
player
is capable of similar. If it is worth considering, what makes/models of
DAC
should I look at that would match the Arcam's level of fidelity?

In fact, my choice would be to look for an Arcam Black Box 500 which you
should be able to pick up for £200. Leaving aside the flexible connectivity
(which you might never use) it sounds bloody marvellous. I use it with DAB &
MD and soon Freeview, although not with CD (prefer the sound of the 8000CD's
in-built DAC, but that wont really be an issue for you). I would also keep
an eye out for the Alchemist TS-D1 or TS-D2. The latter, in particular, was
a terrific upgrade and they are both quite compact.