How important is the source?
When I say source I'm not reffering to the actual recording, but the means of replaying it, or getting it to ones amp/DAC/active speakers. I think that a good source is important, but I don't believe that one needs to spend big to get a good source, I'm personally very happy with the quality of Spotify, fed to my ADMs which have an on board DAC.
If I want to listen to a CD I'll stick one in my Sony Blu-Ray player which feeds the digital data to the ADMs, which for me is good enough.
I once had a Marantz CD6003 which I thought was a lovely machine, I compared it to my Blu-Ray player and very marginally preffered it, so it was flogged to release funds.
How important is the source to you? Do you believe that expensive CDPs sound much better than the likes of the Marantz? Do you believe that some makes/models of CDPs sound better with other specific makes and models of amps? And if so, why?
Thanks..
I had a rather nice Rotel RCD991AE, which sounded a lot better than my previous CD player (CD500SE), now that was probably down to the output stages, if so, an expensive source would have its value in its output stage. If using a good DAC, any digital source plugged in could be very basic indeed and still sound great, in this case, the DAC becomes the source.
I wouldn't bother with an expensive CD player any more though, as apart from being legacy equipment, they are too limited in function and can have a short life due to the transport mechanisms/laser assembly and a lot better VFM can be had with a DAC/Preamp combo IMO.
Anyhoo Max, weren't you off?
Max, what's the best source you've ever heard and what system was it being used in?
Have you heard a decent TT or Streamer?
I've never heard a TT.
A Streamer doesn't have a sound beyond perhaps it's DAC, IMO, for example, I'm of the opinion that an Airport Express being fed Spotify, will be as good as any expensive streamer that one might care to mention, nothing can differ in the digital domain, and that means that only the on board DAC can possibly have any influence on the sound, and I don't believe there's much of a difference between DACs at all, certainly not in my limited experience of comparisons, and from what I've read, the results of blind tests etc.
Thx Max, that's what I thought.
Cno
Very important if all of your music is on vinyl and you only own a CD player. 
Sorry Max I couldn't resist it. I'll get my coat now.
Extremely. 
I used my Sega Saturn as a CD source through my TV to my pre-amp (without getting a fancy SCART cable with separate phono connector) to test the sound output for my games consoles.
It sounded 'accurate' but 'clinical', lacking emotion and feeling to the music. Sounded great for games though!
My Cyrus CD7Q is obviously noticeable better in my opinion.
Having said that, I have not demoed a transport/DAC system.
I have however used my PC as a source and preferred my Cyrus CD7Q.
Yes I think sources matter, or at least some do. I've had a number of CD players over the years and there were noticeable differences between some and less so between others. My current Denon player (£1000 new) is probably the best I've had - more cohesiveness and clarity to the music than I was getting in the room from my Marantz.
I imagine it's because the Denon is apparently a lean sounding player, which means the resulting output suits the constraints affecting the stereo setup in my room.
Extremely.
Yes I think sources matter, or at least some do. I've had a number of CD players over the years and there were noticeable differences between some and less so between others. My current Denon player (£1000 new) is probably the best I've had - more cohesiveness and clarity to the music than I was getting in the room from my Marantz.
I imagine it's because the Denon is apparently a lean sounding player, which means the resulting output suits the constraints affecting the stereo setup in my room.
So it has good synergy with the rest of your system?
Well, everything is important if you want great sound. Everything in the chain can degrade the sound. As to what is most important, I'd rank them like this:
Speakers
Preamp (if you have a seaparate one)
Amp
Source
Cables
But, I don't think we'll find much consensus on this subject.
Yes I think sources matter, or at least some do. I've had a number of CD players over the years and there were noticeable differences between some and less so between others. My current Denon player (£1000 new) is probably the best I've had - more cohesiveness and clarity to the music than I was getting in the room from my Marantz.
I imagine it's because the Denon is apparently a lean sounding player, which means the resulting output suits the constraints affecting the stereo setup in my room.
So it has good synergy with the rest of your system?
In this room, yes, there's a good balance. Sounds great.
Well, everything is important if you want great sound. Everything in the chain can degrade the sound. As to what is most important, I'd rank them like this:
Speakers
Preamp (if you have a seaparate one)
Amp
Source
Cables
But, I don't think we'll find much consensus on this subject.
+1
Well, everything is important if you want great sound. Everything in the chain can degrade the sound. As to what is most important, I'd rank them like this:
Speakers
Preamp (if you have a seaparate one)
Amp
Source
Cables
But, I don't think we'll find much consensus on this subject.
+1
Is that +1 agreeing with this order, or agreeing we won't find much agreement?
I'd say not much chance of agreeing!
As as for the OP, of course it is worth spending more on the source if you can appreciate and afford it. It cannot be improved from that point, so the better it starts the better it will end up.
Do try to hear a hi-end system some time, and ideally a turntable. Even a hi-fi show would do, but a decent dealer would be better. They might even show you a really great source on a modest system - that is worth seeking out.
Well, everything is important if you want great sound. Everything in the chain can degrade the sound. As to what is most important, I'd rank them like this:
Speakers
Preamp (if you have a seaparate one)
Amp
Source
Cables
But, I don't think we'll find much consensus on this subject.
+1
Is that +1 agreeing with this order, or agreeing we won't find much agreement?
I'd say not much chance of agreeing!
As as for the OP, of course it is worth spending more on the source if you can appreciate and afford it. It cannot be improved from that point, so the better it starts the better it will end up.
Do try to hear a hi-end system some time, and ideally a turntable. Even a hi-fi show would do, but a decent dealer would be better. They might even show you a really great source on a modest system - that is worth seeking out.
Max, what's the best source you've ever heard and what system was it being used in?
Have you heard a decent TT or Streamer?
"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." André Gide