Jaco,

FWIW, when I first started using the Apogee Big Ben I compared a number of cheap transports (<$1000) againt my Mark Levinson Reference CD Transport (~$15,000) and Meridian 800 (~$15,000). With the Big Ben in the chain every transport sounded 99% as good as the Mark Levinson/Meridian (others have reported similar results against other high-end transports). The Big Ben bridged the gap that had previously existed. I no longer believe there is any point in spending money on high end transports when the same can be achieved for so much less (ie a cheap transport and the $1300 Big Ben).

So, as long as the Pioneer's only job in this instance is sending out the digital stream, and the Apogee Big Ben is there to reclock it, I am totally happy :-)

Cheers,

Mark

My Music : My Cinema