Hi,

I currently have a quad 99 system in my lounge and am very happy with it. I am about to upgrade the cds (standard 99 player) to the improved cdp-2.

My question is: Is the pre-amp that is built into the cdp-2 player as good as the stand alone 99 pre-amp? Obviously I could use the 99 pre-amp with the cdp-2 anyway, but if there's nothing in it, then I will sell the stand alone and use the cdp-2 for cd and pre-amp (I don't have the luxury of auditioning both and selling the pre-amp would help cover costs, but only if necessary).

Thanks for any help :-)

Matt

[Dav1dF]

The pre-amp built into the CDP2 is a digital one, so if you need any analogue inputs, you'd have to use a separate pre-amp.

Thanks for the reply,

I would only be using the cdp-2 within the system (no external inputs/outputs) I would interconnect the cdp-2 with my power-amps..

With this in mind, will the sound be as good as if I used the stand alone as a dedicated amp? is the actual sonic delivery the same from the amps? I have a hunch that the cdp-2 player's amp won't be as good as the stand-alone..

Thanks,
Matt

[Dav1dF]

I've never done a direct comparison, but I'd say the same to

[Mr_Sukebe]

I know a chap with a 99 and also the seperate pre. He does use the pre, but only because he needs additional analogue inputs. His comment was that he couldn't tell the difference between the two.

[Jules Tohpipi]

The volume pot in the CDP-2 is a high-quality device that's identical to the one used in the Pre.

In the CDP-2, however, the signal doesn't have to go through balance controls, tilt controls, etc. Therefore the CDP-2 should sound marginally better due to shorter signal path (all other things being equal).

[SirStan]

I have done a direct comparison (this was about two years ago) and I just about preferred the sound of the CDP-2 direct into the 99 series stereo power amp (though I don't recall there being much in it). This was after upgrading from an old CD player. Having no other analogue components to connect, I later sold the 99 Pre.

One point of convenience to note is that the 99 Pre can switch the matching 99 power amp into standby via the remote (in conjunction with Quadlink, or whatever they call it). The CDP-2 can't, so you would have to manually switch on/off the power amp via the button at the rear.

[Mark.Yudkin]

The problem with the question is that it's comparing two completely different things. The CDP-2 has an attenuator - a volume control - and that's all. The 99 Pre is a full function preamp. If you only need a volume control for a single CD source to 99 / 909 power, then you can omit the 99 Pre. If you want the functions of the 99 Pre, then you'll need the 99 Pre.