Old vs. New

Hi Robert,

Let me just say that you've become one of my most esteemed and trusted advisors when it comes to audio equipment reviews and enjoy said articles considerably.

My question to you has to do with how far digital has come. Your review of the Cambridge Audio Azur 840C cd player was glowing, would it out-shine somthing like the Sonic Frontiers sfcd-1 cd player that you enjoyed immensley years ago ?

I recently purchased a used Sonic Frontiers sfl-1 pre-amp to go with my also recently purchased used Bryston 3B sst power amp, and am very impressed. I already new the bryston was "up to the minute" but wasn't sure just how good the Sonic Frontiers would be, and it's not even the signature edition. My system now is in a different league than before, as good as the YBA Integre' dt is/was. I am enjoying music now I would normally not even listen to simply because my system can now start to "transport" me to that recording venue with big, airy soundstages and voices and instruments sound more real. I use a Musical Fidelity A3-24 upsampling dac and feel I am hearing for the first time somthing close to it's true potential, and am realizing just how much music really is on those little silver discs.

Thus my interest in posing this question to you in regards to an older upscale piece like the sfcd-1 cd player, compared to a more moderately priced piece but with advanced digital "innards" like the Azur 840C cd player.

Thank you again for your time and for the knowledge and enjoyment that I get from your articles.

Sincerely,

Ron Gooding