CDX2 or DAC V1 sound compare/contrast

Almost certainly this is from the differences in the DAC and output stages of the two sources. The CDX2 is something quite special - although I wouldn't it sound the most neutral, but boy its an enjoyable exuberant sound that perhaps suits heavy blues more than choral music.. i keep my CDX2 as my source of choice for such music

Quite easy really, CD format sounds better!

Two things: different DAC and different quality of the digital transports used.

I would echo Simon's remark. The CDX2 is sounding quite special. While I wouldn't want to step down anymore from my NDS. I would say the CDX2 has a kind of edgy sound which can ensure that a number of things are sounding quire special. Combined with the ndac and the xps it's not so easily surpassed by other sources. And especially not with the boogie factor....

I used to run mine via nDAC + 555PS. Now it just runs on its own, powered by a non-DR 555ps.

Regardless of how it's used, CDX2.2 is a rather special CD player.

Paulie posted:

I play Steely Dan's Aja on my CDX 2 (powered from mains, into a Supernait 2). It sounds great. Then I play the same album off my Mac PowerBook (using Audirvana) through a DAC V1 into the Supernait 2. It sounds noticeably different. Not necessarily better/worse, just different (soundstage sounds wider off CD, to my ears). The audio file is an AIFF rip off the CD, which should, in theory, be an exact copy of the CD. So, why the difference? Are the DAC's in the two units THAT different? 

Just curious as to other's experience with this kind of thing. Cheers. 

RE: soundstage - I find that my HP Elitebooks' sound is reduced in 'openness'  compared to a dedicated desktop, when plugged directly into the DAC V1 USB. The Sonore microRendu on the other hand improves on the laptops considerably. Some dressing of the setup (Ethernet fibre optic isolation via media converters, low noise power supplies)  result in an outstanding soundstage! There is some info on this in these forums if interested.