www.getmusicbee.com
I've got some of the MediaBridge cables, plugs and so on, very well made, no complaints.
Yup. I think I'm gonna go with those then.
How does the switchable gain on the Magni affect the output signal? The specs show gain is either 1 (0db) or 5.5 (15db), selectable via rear switch. Does this mean that if a phonostage has +40db gain, and a Magni was used as a preamp with high gain selected, the total gain would now be +55db?
Sorry late to the game on this convo but I had actually been thinking about this a bit over the last week. I've got a 100 CD changer next to my desk but it's super big and somewhat awkward to use. I was thinking of picking up a blu ray player (link below to the one I had open in my browser, $68, you could probably find this on Amazon too) and feeding the digital out to my dac (schiit modi 3). You would just need to ensure that your amp/receiver has a digital port and an internal DAC.Honestly, under $200 I would look for a Blue-ray player. I know that sounds odd, but an actual CD player is hard to come by now a days, and the ones out there are for "audiophiles" and end up being pricey-er, over $300 for sure unless you start looking at used, and even then it might be hard.
There are a lot of good audio quality BR players that will also play DVD and CDs, so just in case you get some Deluxe package that has physical digital media you'll be able to play them as well. See if anyone else has any recommendations, just my 2 cents on the player
If it's not going to be used for blu-rays, then a dvd player would suffice. This one from Sony is only $33, has both digital coax AND analog RCA outputs, and a 96kHz/24bit DAC, so no need for a separate DAC (although I'm sure the modi is better). And I'm guessing the blu-ray you linked to also has a DAC, it can't just be a transport?
I didn't see a DAC listed in the specs. I'd imagine if the output is digital coax though it would need a DAC if you went that route? But yes, DVD player would work well too, that one looks like it could be a good option.
Maybe, but I would be very surprised if Sony was selling a mass-market blu-ray player and stating it also plays CDs, but omitting the fact that you need an outboard DAC. Most people have no idea what that is and would be upset.
You can play CDs through your television out the box. That's all they assume you'd do.
I may be misunderstanding your point, but I respectfully disagree. The idea that this mass-marketed Sony blu-ray player is merely a cd transport makes no sense to me whatsoever. I think it's merely an omission in the description. This unit purports to play cds. The market for this product has no idea what a cd transport and a dac are. The general public understands a traditional cd player, which plays cds when hooked up to amplified speakers.
I may be misunderstanding your point, but I respectfully disagree. The idea that this mass-marketed Sony blu-ray player is merely a cd transport makes no sense to me whatsoever. I think it's merely an omission in the description. This unit purports to play cds. The market for this product has no idea what a cd transport and a dac are. The general public understands a traditional cd player, which plays cds when hooked up to amplified speakers.
And, Sony does not assume the user of this will only play cds through a tv. They also have to assume someone might also use this player in a home theater system with an amp and separate speakers, which is very common. And, how could someone play the audio signal from a CD through their television speakers without any digital to analog conversion? Do all TVs have built in dacs?
In any event, I would just get the $33 Sony dvd player, which explicitly states it has a dac for the audio.
Ah, so if it only has digital outputs, then it can only output a digital signal? I understand.
I ended up just plugging the PHO8 straight into the back of the Sonos. No benefit of just flipping a few input switches on the amp to switch from the main speakers to the living room Sonos system, but at least it's a simple switch of wires when the mood strikes.
