Denon DCD-F109: Keep it or upgrade to a new CD player?

[dr.n]

I previously purchased a used Denon DCD-F109 at a great price and have been using it paired with a Denon DA-300USB DAC. At the time, I felt the sound was a bit "metallic," though im not sure if that was due to the DAC, the cables, or just my imagination.

Im currently at a crossroads: Do you think its sufficient to keep the DCD-F109 as a transport and simply upgrade to a modern external DAC? Or would moving to a dedicated, newer player like the Denon DCD-900NE offer a meaningful improvement in sound quality?

i'd appreciate any insights, especially regarding whether the transport itself would make a measurable difference in this setup. Thanks!

Denon dcd-f109

denon dcd900

 

[delta76]

what is the output of this? If it's coaxial digital then you can add a cheap (but good) DAC and be happy.

 

[dr.n]

Coax out only

 

[Redacted]

It's not the cables.
Keep it - if you just use digital out to a modern DAC or streamer box, it will sound fine. It will be the same as a £50 or a £50,000 CD player being used as transport.

 

[Redacted]

Coax out only

If your DAC or streamer only has Toslink inputs, you can buy a co-ax to toslink converter for about £13.

 

[dr.n]

I had the chance to test the DCD-F109 today by connecting it to the coaxial input of my rotel rc-1570 using a klotz d7 pro 75 Ohm digital coax cable.

Although i have only been able to test it with headphones so far, the sound quality is truly satisfying. I must admit, I didnt expect this level of performance from a player that goes for around 100 Euros on ebay, but i was wrong. Using it as a transport into the rotel dac seems to be a very capable setup.

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions!

 

[Redacted]

Yes - ANY CD player with digital outputs (i.e. working as a "transport") will sound the same as any other, so long as the laser and the mechanism still functions OK! £50 or £5000; you're just paying for a nicer case.

Also, no need for an over-priced "pro digital lead" - over a metre or two distance the digital signal can nearly be transmitted OK over wet string!

 

[pinger]

Its well established that CD players and DAC's all the sound the same. Cables also dont affect sound. Numerous threads on these topics.

 

[dr.n]

i mean the products with music and audio labels of course. you are right but this is the cheapest coax cable i can find online here. prices generally start at 100 usd. even second hand there are no cheap coax cables available

 

[Redacted]

You can make one for pennies that will work fine.

 

[dr.n]

i started researching this

 

[Redacted]

Over a short run, the characteristic impedance of the coax is irrelevant (snip a bit off your TV aerial lead or even use mono phono-type cable) and you can use any solderable RCA connector - IIRC the connectors are not UHF types. You are after all only sending very low bit rates down the cable. It's worth a euro to do a test!