CD players without internal DAC

[may29901]

Is anyone making a high quality CD transport designed to be used solely with a separate external DAC?
As an option for a lower priced but quality CD player....for those people who will upgrade their DACs periodically..

 

[eickmewg]

Cambridge audio has one, the CXC. https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/cx/cxc

 

[freQ(*)Oddio]

The new nad 516 is $299, it has has the dac outputs along with a internal choice, i use mine with a cambridge dac

 

[tmtomh]

I believe the Cambridge might be the only dedicated, DAC-less transport at a reasonable price point. But many good CD players have digital outputs, which bypass the player's internal DAC, allowing you to use it the way you have asked about. That massively increases your choices.

 

[benricci]

Is anyone making a high quality CD transport designed to be used solely with a separate external DAC?
As an option for a lower priced but quality CD player....for those people who will upgrade their DACs periodically..

Why not just use the digital outputs available on practically every CD player? This will bypass the internal DAC so you can use any DAC you want.

 

[ferninando]

MANY cd players do not provide digital outputs. but they should.

 

[charles 1973]

Cambridge audio has one, the CXC. https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/cx/cxc

Got it! Like it a lot.

Use it with the DAC module in my Bryston Integrated amp.

The other option was a $2,000 Moon Audio unit that sounds a bit better and has as an option for a superb optional DAC. If you want the last 2-3% go for the Moon, For the rest of us, I would recommend the Cambridge CX-C. I would also recommend their matching Integrated amps if SQ and value are a high priority.

 

[N8Nagel]

There's also the Oppo BDT-101c which is a blu-ray transport only.

 

[benricci]

MANY cd players do not provide digital outputs. but they should.

Really? I don't think I've encountered a single CD player in the past 20 years without digital outputs.

 

[eickmewg]

I have the Cambridge CXC and I really enjoy it with my Xiang Sheng DAC-01A, a pretty low-end DAC. So, someday I might upgrade the DAC when I win the lottery. My only gripe about the CXC is that I can't get the display bright enough even at maximum brightness level. I has replaced a Denon CDC-1560, which still functions and gets used periodically.

 

[bacobits]

I have a CXC Trans into a Yggdrasil and it was better than my SA15 Ltd for a transport.

Woo audio makes a nice one at 1200.
http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wtp1.html

 

[guiller]

Is anyone making a high quality CD transport designed to be used solely with a separate external DAC?
As an option for a lower priced but quality CD player....for those people who will upgrade their DACs periodically..

There are several models of CD transports standalone. What is your budget? The good ones are not cheap. E.g.,

https://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-note-cdt-oneii-cd-transport-dac-21x-signature-da-processor

PS: following Richard Austen hint!