The CD standard's output level is 2Volts at 1kHz.

The Adcom GCD-750 is very good:

XLR outputs, 4 Burr-Brown CM-1702P, 20-bit DACs, digital filter from Pacific Microsonics MD-100 HDCD and the output stage uses MOSFET transistors instead of OP-amps...Looks like a very nice cdplayer, but IMO you should not forguet Wadia.... a company that's been focused almost solely on CD playback for nearly 20 years.
A well-known feature of Wadia CD players is a built-in digital volume control that lets you connect them directly to a power amp.

The best systems I have ever "laid my ears on" was analog source as R2R or TT, with a proper good quality analog preamp, analog mono power amps and dynamic loudspeakers.

Very conservative choise but it happens to be my preference and has been since I started this soul-stimulating music listening thing............

Another issue comes up the moment OP wants to connect a good FM tuner or other low output line signal.

Head phone amps build into devices like CD's, Cassette players, R2R machines or what ever are all low quality......................... a very few pro ones - and I DO mean really proffesional ones here, can deliver high quality build-in head phone amps.
Don't expect serious sound from any volume regulation there except those few pro ones.

I would suggest to stay conservative here.

Just my 0,015 Italian Lire

"dolph"

Great topic. I'm getting a lot from this.

Agreed with Thed., this info is very informative and will help me get where I want togo sound-wise.

Dolph: So, it sounds like a purpose built preamp is better than a CDP with variable output because of the headphone amp tie-in. I think I'll try to get my TA-E77ESD back. This preamp has an on-board DAC and a straight-line setting. Plus it has a phono amp and selector for a tuner I might want to use.

Based on your informative advice, I decided to buy one of these off the bay:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyes/...D/TAE77ESD.html

The search for AUDIO NIRVANA continues...

My main system pre is a PS Audio SR-1 with the feature.
Lame to admit... I've never experimented with it,
but now that you reminded me, I'll have to give it a
few comparison tests.

Congrats, it looks just smashing.

Thanks! I had one before but sold it to a buddy who needed remote control AND a quality preamp. The TA-E77ESD has a todoidal transformer and large filter caps (for a preamp) so that fits my requirement for a superior signal amplifier. I'll post a nudie when it arrives.

Eventually, I will take it to my tech to have it tested for square wave reproduction. This will show if the preamp is adding color.

no remote, but I really like my Bryston 11B!

I have a Sony TAE2000 ESD preamp. It does everything in the digital domain. It is extremely quiet and has very high quality parametric equalization. It has multiple hall enhancement modes if multi channel is your thing. It also functions as an excellent and very flexible stereo preamp.

Can it decode 5.1?

Yes it has very fine quality dolby pro logic decoding. There was a long article on the web somewhere extolling the virtues of the dpl decoder. The article claimed it was the best in the world. It is of course pre dolby digital and dts. It has a built in electronic crossover and will drive a sub in the stereo mode as well as surround sound modes. The sub level is remote controllable. It also has a very nice d to a converter with a digital attenuator for matching purposes. There is also an analog attenuator for source matching as the analog signal is immediately converted to digital for processing. (one button bypasses all the digital circuits) This was Sony's best digital technology in 1990. I picked it up for a song years ago because several of the analog inputs didn't work. The previous owner had broken them off the main pcb with his garden hose sized patch cords. (an easy fix) All in all it is a pretty nice package and has nice wood side panels.

Thanks for the TA-E2000ESD info, it sounds very impressive. I dunno, I'm still a 2-channel listener so the TA-E77ESD is for me. BTW, it has a pair of 63V 4700 uF filter caps! This is as much as some 25 wpc amplifiers!!

THIS, deserves lookin into! http://gabbly.com/http://www.audiogon.com/...54&/Bryston-12B

If I could actually see the Bry. through the blur, I might consider it!