New CDP or External DAC

[KEN]

Hi guys,

need your opinions...my entry level audio setup consist of the ff:

RCD02 ->CDP
RC03 ->Preamp
Quad 306 ->power amplifier(biamp)

Now I got the opportunity to upgrade but confuse which way to go ? Got the following options :

Rotel RCD1072 CDP or Musical Fidelity Combi of
X-DAC v3 and X-PSU v3

which one will yield better sound quality on my setup ?
Incase I go for the MF combi, would RCD02 HDCD decoder
becomes useless ?
TIA

[DifferentLee]

Neither: get a Benchmark DAC1.

[Phil Rose]

Uh, I don't know but, Stereophile just reviewed the Musical Fidelity components you mention and seemed to think they sounded pretty darned good with measurments to back up the sound.

[georgev]

I certainly would go with the separate dac and use the player as a transport.
Both the Benchmark and the MF are pretty good.
Yes if you use the player as a transport, the HDCD decoder on your player would be useless, so make sure your dac can decode HDCD.
George.

[KEN]

thanks guys, got the MF combi and it did elevated my 2 ch listening to the next level (IMHO).Very detail, clean but not bright.

[Spearmint]

thanks guys, got the MF combi and it did elevated my 2 ch listening to the next level (IMHO).Very detail, clean but not bright.

Congratulations on your purchase.

These external DACs certainly add another dimension to the sound.

BTW did you also get the X-10v3 Tube Output Buffer? If not see if you can try one, in 2x setups I have done an A/B with and without, it gives more depth to the sound stage.

X-10v3

[KEN]

for got to update...got now the x-10v3 as well. It indeed gives improvement on my system, test it both bet. CPD and preamp, and bet. premp and power amp...

I find the later better(IMHO)...

cheers

Congratulations on your purchase.

These external DACs certainly add another dimension to the sound.

BTW did you also get the X-10v3 Tube Output Buffer? If not see if you can try one, in 2x setups I have done an A/B with and without, it gives more depth to the sound stage.

X-10v3

[thepogue]

congrats....

always fun to see new gear in town!

Pogue