AudioCircle

Industry Circles => NuPrime Audio => Topic started by: kaka89 on 5 Mar 2018, 06:03 pm

Title: Can CDP-9 replace DAC-9's preamp
Post by: kaka89 on 5 Mar 2018, 06:03 pm

If I want to upgrade to CDP-9, do I need to keep the DAC-9 for its pre-amp section?

I am pairing with STA-9.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Can CDP-9 replace DAC-9's preamp
Post by: left channel on 5 Mar 2018, 06:43 pm

The CDP-9 has its own DAC and preamp as well as digital outputs, but you may want to hang onto the DAC-9 for now just to compare. I believe the DAC designs are very different.

Title: Re: Can CDP-9 replace DAC-9's preamp
Post by: rustydoglim on 5 Mar 2018, 08:26 pm

CDP-9 uses ESS9028 DAC, sound wise no different from ESS9018.
But then as we keep saying, the performance is not due to the DAC chip anymore.
All sorts of circuit and features other than the DAC chip determine the performance.
DAC-9 sounded warmer but not as detailed as CDP-9 or DAC-10.

Title: Re: Can CDP-9 replace DAC-9's preamp
Post by: left channel on 5 Mar 2018, 09:16 pm

Thanks for the additional detail, Rusty Dawg. I really like the DAC-9, and in general prefer DACs designed around AKM chips like the AK4490 EQ in the DAC-9, whatever the reason.

@kaka89 looking forward to hearing your impressions when you can compare them both.