Would I benefit from a new cd player....

[flyboylr45]

I'm using an old Adcom gcd-750 cd player which I bought new when I was 16 ( about 16 years ago) after saving for a while and was my first "high-end" audio purchase. I'm sure there have been pretty huge leaps in DACs since that player was manufactured. The player works as good as when I bought it. In my 2 channel system, would I benefit from an upgrade? My room is strictly for stereo and is treated with acoustic panels. Any suggestions on cd players? Would there be that much of a difference in DACs?

[templemaners]

I think you'd be better off ripping your CD's into FLAC or some other high quality format and using a music server. That's really the way to go.

[mtrycrafts]

... I'm sure there have been pretty huge leaps in DACs since that player was manufactured. The player works as good as when I bought it. In my 2 channel system, would I benefit from an upgrade?...

I seriously doubt it. But, if you need some flexibility that your older player doesn't have but need it and a new one does, then there is no question but hunt for that flexibility.

[TLS Guy]

I'm using an old Adcom gcd-750 cd player which I bought new when I was 16 ( about 16 years ago) after saving for a while and was my first "high-end" audio purchase. I'm sure there have been pretty huge leaps in DACs since that player was manufactured. The player works as good as when I bought it. In my 2 channel system, would I benefit from an upgrade? My room is strictly for stereo and is treated with acoustic panels. Any suggestions on cd players? Would there be that much of a difference in DACs?

You are almost certainly fine. I just sold a player from 1984. I bench tested it, and it is the equal of any player now, in terms of sound quality and better than most.

[Irvrobinson]

The Adcom uses a Pacific Microsonics digital filter, which is the same part used in Mark Levinson CD players of that generation. So pretty good stuff. The Burr-Brown DAC is not state-of-the-art by current standards, but it ought to be more than good enough for CDs.

The only digital trick the Adcom seems to be missing is some sort of jitter control circuitry, like Benchmark Media uses. I can't predict if you'll believe you hear a difference. In the time frame the Adcom was designed I used to believe I could hear differences between CD players (and DAC units, for that matter). I'm also convinced I can hear a difference between the analog output of the Emotiva ERC-2 I use as a CD transport and the Benchmark DAC1 HDR I use as a DAC/pre-amp. Of course, with the Emotiva providing the analog output there's an extra set of analog cables and connections, and an extra amplification stage in the loop, and that's a more likely cause for any real audible difference than any digital artifact. Or, I could be imagining the differences.

The Adcom's output stage supports balanced connections, which usually means they've put more thought into the analog driver stage than usual, but I haven't examined a schematic to set if it's truly using differential circuitry, or just a converter circuit at the output.

There's also the chance of some capacitor degradation in the Adcom after 16 years, so it might not be performing exactly as new. But just a chance.

If you insist on trying something new, two options offer money-back guarantees:

1. The Emotiva ERC-2 CD player for $450 shipped. It's close to SOTA, with a true differential output stage.

2. The Benchmark DAC-1 for $995, and use the Adcom as a transport. It is truly SOTA when fed into an integrated amp like yours. If you don't need the money back guarantee you get from ordering from the manufacturer, Guitar Center runs periodic general specials that uniquely (to my knowledge) includes Benchmark Media products.

The question is: why do you think there might be an improvement to be had?

[flyboylr45]

Well, I notice that this systems very revealing. There is a huge difference in sound between bad recordings and good recordings. I'm thinking that the system is revealing enough that I would be able to hear a difference between my 16 year old player's DACs and a more current SOTA player. I'd like to listen to a few in my system before making a decision. And lastly, upgradeitis. This system is all new with the exception of the cd player. BTW, the adcom has a coaxial digital input so I can use the DACs and run a digital signal to it but it doesn't have a digital out. It cannot be used as a Transport.

[Irvrobinson]

Well, I notice that this systems very revealing. There is a huge difference in sound between bad recordings and good recordings. I'm thinking that the system is revealing enough that I would be able to hear a difference between my 16 year old player's DACs and a more current SOTA player. I'd like to listen to a few in my system before making a decision. And lastly, upgradeitis. This system is all new with the exception of the cd player. BTW, the adcom has a coaxial digital input so I can use the DACs and run a digital signal to it but it doesn't have a digital out. It cannot be used as a Transport.

How unfortunate about the Adcom... no digital output, only an input? Now that's confidence in the DAC section! I should have also read the owners manual more closely.

Upgradeitis should be avoided, unless you have money you don't need. I understand upgradeitis. I don't recommend it, but I understand it.

How much different recordings sound, even good recordings, is an indicator of revealing speakers I've used for years. If every recording, for example, sounds a little bright, you know the speaker is doing something undesirable. But that doesn't necessarily mean that just because you have a revealing system you need a new CD player. Perhaps you can get your McIntosh dealer to lend you his demo MCD301 for an evening to see how it sounds in your system. Be careful, though, that's how I ended up buying a Mark Levinson CD player in 1997.

[flyboylr45]

I was looking at the mcd-500 and the esoteric sa-50. I have a dealer that ordered a new one and will let me try it at home in my system. I know upgradeitis is dangerous but after this upgrade this room is done. I was thinking of getting the wadia 171 and running it through the dacs on the new player if I decide to buy one.

[Irvrobinson]

I was looking at the mcd-500 and the esoteric sa-50. I have a dealer that ordered a new one and will let me try it at home in my system. I know upgradeitis is dangerous but after this upgrade this room is done. I was thinking of getting the wadia 171 and running it through the dacs on the new player if I decide to buy one.

This is the way to go. Just don't be afraid to say you can't really hear any difference, because you may not.

[flyboylr45]

Lol lol. Very true. I may not "hear" a difference but I'll definitely "see" the difference in both esthetics and wallet!!!!! ;-). We'll see. How would I set up a dbt at home? I guess have two identical CDs and play them at the same time connected to different inputs and have my wife switch them from the remote? The problem I see if they would not be level matched and the louder one would most likely be perceived as the better one. Any suggestions?