nice website steve...
any kw sacd by mf, be aware that the transport is no longer replaceable, the best buy are the kw25's transport and dac, nando.
I'd go for the opus 21. Also look at ripping losslessly to hard disk and using the slimdevices transporter.
My worthless 2p worth ! If I had that sort of pocket change, I would be on the lookout for a Bow ZZ-eight. Or maybe eve an Eikos (always loved the look, no idea what they sound like)
Have you considered the Ayre/Esoteric - never heard them but people I have spoken to speak highly of them (is it the 7xe Ayre - seen for aorund £1300 2nd hand and £2k new). A bit from left field and probably too cheap but the Rega Saturn at c.£1300 is meant to be very musical (I had the Apollo at £500) and thought that was very good.
My take would be a smooth sounding DAC: Kora Hermes DAC / 47 Lab Shigaraki DAC / Bel Canto DAC2 / Audio Note DAC 1.1x... and a good transport: CEC TL51 / Stello CDT200 / 47 Lab Shigaraki / North Star Design 192 / Audio Note... As for cables I'd get the Stereovox XV2 / HDXV.
P.S.: I have listened to the G08 and it sounded very digital: lots of (treble) detail and an analytic/sterile atmosphere…
How about this Wadia? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wadia-830-Hig...642QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110095403103
Something to bear in mind - especially when looking at older players - is that CDR is strictly outside the formal CD specifications. Most of the time it isn't an issue, but some players won't look at them (early ML39s being an example).
Hi Dick, Thank's for mentioning the CDR (in)ability. I would never have thought of that because I never feed my transport with home made copies... Cheers, Ricardo