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Best DAC for pcm files

Hi,

I know i am not super top with my question because all discussion turn around the DSD but i have more than 3500 songs in pcm (apple loss less), and i am confortable with the pcm format.

So my question here is pretty simple, i looking for the best dac for pcm audio file format (please don't say DCS it's out of my budget). I want spend around 2500/3000 usd on the used market. Example : weiss 202, berkley aplha dac 2, etc.....

Do you have any recommandation?
georgelfre
dragon_vibe
430 posts
 
MSB Analog DAC, with Power Supply, Quad Rate DSD or Network Renderer.
dragon_vibe
430 posts
 
MSB Analog is one of the most Analog Sounding, Gobs of bass and very smooth. Its an Adept in PCM Files. DSD sounds good too but I have not tried other Dacs for DSD Audio.
ampus
28 posts
 
Modwright Elyse. Fantastic analog sounding and you could tube roll.
gpgr4blu
1,078 posts
 
One of the very best redbook cd players I have ever heard (and which I prefer over the last version of the DCS stack--- although I have not listened carefully to the current version) is the Spectral Pro. That processor uses a double balanced implementation of the AD1853, a multi bit Sigma/Delta converter. Implementation is the key and Keith Johnson is the key master. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Yes gpgr4blu
Keith Johnson is the master of PCM recordings "Reference Recordings" and a firm believer in HDCD.

The Spectral Pro Dac which is their only dac used 

"DACs are four UltraAnalog  D20400A 20-bit types with HDCD filter chips, made of discrete and monolithic components encapsulated in a potted module, in a balanced configuration (left +, left -, right +, right -) "    Which are R2R Ladder Multibit Dacs


The current CD player which you say you have not listened to carefully is

The  Spectral SDR-4000SL which is a cd player, uses the cheaper  AD1853 multi-bit Sigma/Delta DAC in it.


Cheers George


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