The most exciting development for dramatically improving the sound of compact discs is the latest generation of separate digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Most compact disc players contain both a playback transport system (CD turntable) and a digital-to-analog converter. The playback transport system “reads” the compact disc and sends the digital information to the DAC, which then converts it into the analog signals that the human ear perceives as music.
Recently, a customer purchased a DAC from us and, after connecting it to his CD player at home, found he didn’t experience the dramatic improvement he had noted in our store. He brought his equipment back in, and after testing several DACs with his CD player, we discovered it was difficult to distinguish one from another. It became clear that the CD turntable itself allowed the DAC to perform optimally.
The key factor in this scenario is “jitter,” which is a noise generated by typical transports that affects the digital signal. Even the most sophisticated DAC will transmit this jitter if it’s present in the signal from the transport. Therefore, the audio industry is now highlighting the benefits of separate compact disc playback transports designed to minimize jitter by employing more sophisticated drive systems.
For those aspiring to realize the true potential of a sophisticated, separate DAC in your system, you must feed it jitter-free music information from a high-quality CD turntable.
In the late 1980s, many compact disc player manufacturers began offering digital outputs on their products, allowing consumers to upgrade their sound by incorporating separate, advanced DACs. If you own a compact disc player and wish to upgrade your playback system incrementally, consider investing in a high-quality separate DAC. At The Stereo Shop, we offer models from McIntosh Labs, such as the McIntosh DA2 Digital Audio Module, known for its exceptional performance starting at around $2,000, and the high-performance HiFi Rose DACs, with prices starting around $1,500.
However, to optimize the performance of your separate DAC, consider eventually investing in a separate transport as well. The importance of this upgrade was emphasized by recent experiences, where several customers found only marginal improvements when using DACs with existing systems.
Why not connect a good DAC to your current player and decide for yourself whether it makes a significant difference? When you’re ready to experience the enhanced capabilities of a separate transport, visit The Stereo Shop. The improvement is truly remarkable, akin to night and day.
For example, McIntosh’s MCT500 SACD/CD Transport, priced around $4,500, offers an exceptional low-jitter performance that complements their range of DACs. Together, these components can elevate your music experience to a level previously only imagined.
Whether you choose to enhance your current system incrementally or invest in a completely new setup, our experts at The Stereo Shop are here to guide you every step of the way.
