I started my audio system about 4 years ago, from a Cambridge Audio A500 int Amp, a consumer Pioneer DVD player, and a pair of Monitor Bronze 2 speakers.
6 months later, I left the system to my kids' use and I upgraded myself to a Creek 5350SE int Amp with another pair of Paradigm Studio 20 v3 speakers, still played from a consumer Philips DVD player.
Since my system is in the family room where me and my wife used to watch TV most of the time, so I rarely seriously listen to the music.
Until 3 months ago, I acquired my first tube Amp, it's Almarro A318A int amp, although it's just 18wpc, the sound is so warm and sweet, so I decide to upgrade again.
This time, I tried to locate a quiet space for music alone and myself. Luckily, I was able to allocate a section in my huge bedroom, and put my new system in mind there. So I started acquire a hi-fi grade of CD player -- Cambridge Audio 740C 24bit/384KHz upsampling CD player, great combination with my Almarro A318A tube amp. Then I expand the sound stage by acquiring another floor-standing speaker -- Paradigm Studio 60 v3, even greater match.
So in just 3 months, I now have a complete system and isolated room for enjoying my music. All the equipments I purchased have great reviews, I had never even listened to it once before I got them, quite risky, but turned out to be satisfactory to me.
With the system I enjoy my music, and playing with different wiring setup as well. My favored music are Jazz, Classical, and Chinese Pop.
Just got my Benchmark DAC1, and tried it right on. Use Kimber D60 digital coaxial cable output from my Cambridge Audio 740C and feed it to the DAC1, and line output to another input of my Almarro tube amp, such that I can turn the function knob to compare the signal paths between the 740c's DAC and Benchmark DAC1's DAC.
What I found: the 740C is performing very well, immediate comparison showed that 740C outperform DAC1 by brighter and warmer a little. However, while listen to DAC1 solely, I can sort of tell from the DAC1 more neutral in both the sound and soundstage, very detail though. Very enjoy listening to it.
So, 740C and DAC1 perform quite on par, and I feel I got the 2 best sound sources around the $1000 range.
Can't wait to see the difference my Kimber Silver Streak IC make!!
Thanks for comment. Really I didn't think I had good sound until I got my Cambridge Audio 740C, then I upgraded my speaker to floor-standing Studio 60, to satisfy with the sound. You are right, I currently waiting for my new ic cable to try. I got Kimber Silver Streak, should be good, will see. Cable experiment requires step-by-step to tell the difference.
nice speakers and amps you must have greatsound suggestion if you dont mind try some differnt tpye of speakercable and differnt ic for exmple the transparent cables like the musicwave and the musicwaveplus ic good lisenting