I spent a couple of weeks with my CSP2 in between my PS Audio DAC and my Torii Mk III (I added the CSP2 mainly to incorporate my new Denon DCD-A100 SACD player into the system). It sounded really good. There was a bit of a loss of "immediacy" but there was a really nice tonal gain, a spot of warmth. This was mainly due to interconnects. I'm using the Reality interconnects (with XLR plugs on the DAC end) and Cryoset.com interconnects from the CSP2 to the Torii. I had used the Cryoset.com interconnects from the DAC to the Torii previously and I know they add a touch of warmth and body to the sound. But the Reality cables have a dash more dynamics and a hint of more detail. Either is a great presentation, just a little different. I'm going straight from the DAC into the Torii again since last night. I miss the bit of warmth, but am enjoying the immediacy.

I agree with you in general about "preamps." But the CSP2 is no ordinary preamp. With the right cabling and with its inherent gain flexibility it is practically indetectible unless you make it so by tinkering and finding improvement of "weight" and "body." So I can go either way with my system and have great sound.

Really enjoying the new SACD player. It's built like an earthmover. The final answer for me may be to send the Reality interconnects back to have RCA ends added in place of the XLR, and then use that between the SACD player and the CSP2, and the pair of Cryoset.com interconnects now in use between the SACD and the CSP2 with the DAC. May do that one of these days.

Okay Stone, I'm like a yo-yo. I took the CSP2 back out and I have a digital front end, no preamp again (except the line stage in the Torii Mk III).

Several reasons. One is there's a hum whenever the CSP2 and the DVR are both in the system. I overlooked it for a while, but you may know how it is, it kept getting intermittently worse then better, and I kept being tugged toward it attention-wise. I know there's a gadget I can get that will stop or minimize this, but if I take the CSP2 out it's gone.

Additionally, I would need to buy one more top of the line PS Audio power cord to have my PS Audio DAC/Transport, my Denon DCD-A100 SACD player, the Torii and the CSP2 all with the same cords, which are fantastic cords, and which do make a difference in the sound to my ears and mind and in my system. I compromised by having the SACD player use the next level down cord, but when I do use the better cord that machine just shines a little more. Also I'm using the CSP2 with ye olde Decware amp stand on my cedar TV rack, and that is just not the same as on a maple platform on a maple Samson rack. I know that would sound better, but that's another big expense I'm not prepared to make right now, another Samson rack and trimmings.

And I have three cryo'd 6N1Ps in the CSP2 that are not quite as great as the super cryo'd 6N1P tubes in the Toriii and I know before long I'd be upgrading those.

So it will ultimately cost me too much to have the CSP2 maximized in my system, and I'm not able to justify the cost right now. When I get to working again and have money in the bank to cover all my property taxes et al, then I'll start this process up again. Until then, I think I'm going to be quite happy with the system as it is, no hum, that immediacy, a clarity and dynamic contrast that is just a little better than with the CSP2 (with its present limitations) and just a hair drier and crisper than the presentation is with the CSP2.

And the sound is really pleasing me as Andrea Bocelli's marvelous voice (which turns my gal into butter!) soars above an orchestra right now.

So I'm back in your camp, but I love it either way, with or without a preamp.

Lon,
 Just thought that I would check in. I am happy to see that someone out there realizes the potential for sacd. I bought a Yamaha player a couple of weeks ago and can't quit listening. I t is so good that I thought that I would ask those in different forums what they think of it as a medium. The discs are pretty pricey, but I am still ordering more. So far Ray Charles, Rolling Stone, Bach piano concertos, and Elton John sound just amazing. Really shows more potential from the ZOB speakers that I own. Might sound off the subject, but while I am enjoying this latest thing, I have wondered about inserting bybee products in the incoming AC line. Any thoughts?

And, SOO expensive

Well, I must admit, I am puzzled. It looked as though SACD was was burning out, so I understand the cheap prices. Now however, why did the prices climb up so far? I don't even know if new SACD players are all that common.

Wow! Very good! Thank you very much. I hear that classical music sounds absolutely wonderful through this medium(all things being equal). I do some work with Carver C-9 units, upgrading them, and they really excell when given the kind signal given by an SACD. Now, mind you, I normally listen to this medium as virgin as possible, but I just can't help myself on some of the seventies recordings. Thanks again...now it's time to go to amazon and spend some money.

Cool. I haven't head those SACDs but I bet they sound great.

Yes, I've found a few too. But I don't shop cd stores often.