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Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi All.

Putting together a reference level system.
My Source is predominantly standard 16/44 played from a MacMini using iTunes and Amarra. Some of my music is purchased from iTunes and the rest is ripped from standard CD's.
For my tastes in music, my high def catalogues are still limited; so Redbook 16/44 will be my primary source for quite some time.

I'm not spending DCS or MSB money. But $15-20k retail is not out of the question.

Upsampling vs non-upsampling?
USB input vs SPDIF?

All opinions welcome.

And I know I need to hear them, but getting these ultra $$$ DAC's into your house for an audition ain't easy.

Looking for musical, emotional, engaging, accurate , with great dimension. Not looking for analytical and sterile.
mattnshilp

Showing 4 responses by schussor

schussor
15 posts
 
The DS does have an output transformer. It is a passive (versus active) low pass filter for the DAC. It is the whole point of it.
schussor
15 posts
 
The problem is that an orchestra is not the funnest thing to coordinate and you are less likely to get the world class performers you want into your hall. Besides, musicians tend to not like being called up to play unfamiliar pieces at odd hours. On the other hand they do not like playing the same thing over and again either.
schussor
15 posts
 
The problem is that an orchestra is not the funnest thing to coordinate and you are less likely to get the world class performers you want into your hall. Besides, musicians tend to not like being called up to play unfamiliar pieces at odd hours. On the other hand they do not like playing the same thing over and again either.
schussor
15 posts
 
@Mattnshilp

Have you played your PCM/red book converted to DSD on the PC/Mac by the player software?

I have been trying this out in a small way as a substitute for the Perfect Wave DSD, which impressed me to no end, and with the new firmware impressed me even more, this time in my own system.

I am thinking that one can have higher quality sound per $ if you do all the conversion math in the computer and exit to DAC a DSD stream via USB (or DLNA ethernet when it is really tried and tested adult tech) and forego a real output stage in the DAC leaving gain to the preamp thus making PS and gain electronics out of the cost equation and having S/PDIF as a convenience utility or not at all rather than being the main input.
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