A good DAC: AN kondo, dCS or EMM labs ?

What do you mean by "memory player"? Is that a music server or a CD/SACD transport? If so, which one?

You're listing high end, so I assume a hi-rez source. I'd focus on DACs with open architecture that can handle sampling rates up to DSD one-bit, 5.6Mhz and everything from there down to 16/44.1. Though few have it today, I'd hope for an HDMI-in because more and more hi-rez sources will have that in the future. At a minimum you need Toslink and AES/EBU input and balanced analog out. A method to update firmware, such as USB, will delay obsolesence.

Dave

Can you give a link to what you're considering as a "memory player"?

Ok, now you're blowing my mind. I went to the Memory Player site and see that it has a 32-bit, tube DAC. The claim to fame of the MP, besides the 32-bit DAC, is that it reads the source disc into a large memory and re-reads as part of the error correction (error prevention) mode, hoping to achieve "bit-perfect" disc reading. That's great, but why would anyone go to an external DAC, unless the MP DAC is inferior?

I like the concept of the MP (except for the tubes) but if you're going to put tubes in the chain, then why would you bypass them with an external DAC? Just wondering.

Dave

Thanks Drubin, that now makes more sense to me.

Dave