Hey Katana, your query whether Int. CDPs are better for jitter between transport & DAC would seem logical, but Im convinced that you get good & bad cases, the level in Jitter in a lot of CDPs exceeds what is present in many CD/DVD transport + DAC combos, if a CDP has had fundamental design incoporated to hinder jitter then it should be good for this, here is one such player Ive spotted recently :
http://www.creekaudio.co.uk/products/cd53.asp
With a new customised ultra low jitter master clock and extra circuitry to reduce jitter from the Digital signal Processor, the CD53 truly sings. A re-clocked, low jitter, transformer coupled, co-axial and optical digital output makes it possible to fully realise the potential of high-end stand alone DAC, provided the correct type of interconnect is used.
To provide a useful upgrade path, the D to A converter, high quality master clock generator, jitter reduction circuitry and regulated power supplies are sited on a separate printed circuit board that can be removed and replaced by new or emerging technologies in the future
But even saying that, this player did not get a glowing report in HF+ for its playback abilitites, the reviewer was not that enamoured with it, dont get me wrong if you want a stop gap now before getting a DAC this would be perfect : with a view to adding a quality DAC later. When it comes to transports you should be looking at the best connection type that you feel is adequate for your needs. I personally find SPDIF RCA coaxial is fine for me (although I can see though why the upper echelons of the hifi public like XLR Balanced connections though and the like), saying that there is big variation in types of cable used in RCA cabling IMHO, Im currently trying out a barrel load of cables from one of the DAC dudes on the HFC forum, and surprise BeeKeeper one of the best ones Ive heard is 27p/m Sat Coax cable with heavy duty Locking RCAs
. But one thing I would agree with is the Trichord mods (Im unable to do so due to using my DVD transport the DACs cannot be reclocked Ive checked) especially the clock 3 & Digital output board upgrade £385 fitted by Trichord this IMO is a no brainer and one that Marantz CDPs owners should consider (Micheal
http://www.trichordresearch.com/cd_player_upgrades.html
: DOB upgrade). As I say the use I have for my DVD transport is 90% music / 10% DVD Movies & Music so this is unable to me at present hopefully adding this to DVD willm one day happen but the DVD player clock frequency is not easily changed.
Btw Michael I seen that a review in HFN for that midiman USB SDPIF connection, again a confusing and not wholly descriptive review IMO : Is it a toslink or RCA SDPIF connection you get on that little box, because it sure looks like a toslink connector to me from the photograph. If so I find it hard to believe that it outshone a S7700 Sony in transport duties (im happy to be convinced otherwise BTW)
Katana if it were me dude (and it aint its you) I would be using the Tosh SD900E into a suitable DAC that could go up to 48Khz minimum, this gives you access to lots of material that a normal CD transport like the Alpha 9 cannot access, ie DVD Video tracks encoded either as 16/48 PCM or as DD 5.1 surround sound again at 48Khz (This sounds surprisngly good IMO downmxied into stereo via a PCM signal fed into a good DAC) I also believe that your 900E is 24/96 capable via its digital output, again 24/96 DVD Audio material may be available via that particular units output (IIRC) if the DVD Audio industry ever get their finger out and include stereo mixes for the DVD Video owning fraternity, just another facet of why DVDs make great transports IMHO.
Good thread dudes !!