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 23 responses by calvinj

@melbguy1 well I bought mine from that tube store and it was a huge debacle. No ayon cd2s for me ever again. It went bright and thin quick. The letters on the remote came off and then I got the most arrogant customer service I've ever had in my life. I wouldnt take an ayon product if the paid me to.
Service I got from resonessance was top notch. Ayon not so much. I only have experience with one piece and I won't be trying again. However, other stuff might be good. Too many brands to choose from and service is key. Anyway getting back to dacs resonessence invicta was preferred over ps audio in a recent dac shootout between some audio guys here in Texas.
@melbguy1. Thanks for your support. It seems like they avoid honoring the warranty at all costs. I would expect better from this level of high end electronics. I can't buy it ever again. I would be afraid to. If someone takes that king of dough from me and they don't honor the product fixes. There is gonna be a huge problem. I expect service and performance at a high level. I would not be sure if I would get that from them. It's unfortunate that product with so much potential lost a customer like myself for life because of poor customer service.
@everyone. My resonessance invicta mirus is starting to open up. It's sounding really good. I'm using the manley shrimp with a kst 150. Great soundstage. Great dynamics and decay with absolutely no hardness. I've had it for about a month now. I've been playing
it and it's sounding better by the day.
Have any of you guys heard the parasound cd1. I had it for a while. It was the best cd playback I ever heard.
@mattnshilp. Yes that would be me I have the resonessence invicta dac. I use the sdxc card ps to listen to most of my music. I have someone upconvert my music to dsd using KORG audiogate and I use the sdxc cards that are 128gb and can hold about 30 albums in dsd. My friend Bob Spence recommended this option to me. I'm going to purchase the 256gb to get 60 albums on each. I prefer not to have my dac run through my computer. The sdxc cards allow me to do that. I love this dac and it will be with me for a long time. I heard the psaudio against it and it held its ground pretty good. I'm happy and won't be changing it. Great detail, weight, soundstage and imaging. Highly recommended!!!
Yup you don't end up worrying about the cables, transport or the cpu making any noise. It takes the cpu out of the equation after you store things on sdxc cards.
Has anyone heard that burmester 151 at any of the recent shows or any where else. It's seems to be an all in solution?
I use the resonessence mirus dac. It allows me to not be hooked up to a computer. I use sdxc sad cards 2-256 gb. I got 100 of my best recordings up sampled to 2xdsd using korg audiogate. The sound is sublime. Deep soundstage excellent transparency. I never really wanted to be hooked to a server or computer. This allows me not to be. The sd cards are another approach to this high resolution music that's not talked about. I only get it done for the Best albums. Anyone reading this you ought to give it a try. No one ever responds to my posts here but if you have an opportunity to listen to this give it try.
@mattnslip. Thanks for the reply. I guess when we have huge libraries of music it's like we skip over things we like. With the sd cards I got the 110 best and well recorded albums in my collection and I'm enjoying them in dsd quality. They sound wonderful. I don't have to worry about the server. The power supply to the server. I don't have to worry about cpu noise, interference or other stuff. I get the album. I have it up sample by korg and put it on a card and I am done. Plus the sound is sublime. You here deep into the recording and it has an excellent soundstage. Detail and layering are excellent. Transparency is class a. I'm very happy with it. This company is owned by the brother of the guy that developed the ess sabre chip.
@guidocorona. I saw that. I had a problem with Amazon recently. I ordered it from a third party seller at $275. I didn't know it came from China. They sent the wrong thing. On purpose of course and it took 2 weeks to get my money back and 3 weeks waiting on item. I will let them drop a little more then go in. Lol. I just hate going through the computer audio progressions. I heard my dad on the new bowers and Wilkins 802 D3 today from the sd card. The speaker sounds pretty good. Best bowers I heard so far. There is a cd by Allen toussaint called "The Bright Mississippi" wonderful jazz album. It is one of the best Jazz recordings I have ever heard. It also might be one of the best recorded cd's I've heard in my life. When you hear it in 2xdsd it is absolutely amazing!
@wisnon thanks for the information. I'm enjoying the fact that I'm not being hooked up to a computer is one that I love and will probably never give up. I take my best recordings get them up sampled to Dsd and I am very happy with the sound. No power supply crap. No jitter crap. No server noise crap. Im happy with what I have. Kr audio va 900 with this dac is very musical. I listen to my favorite 100 to 150 recordings through the dac in 2xdsd and if I want to listen to others I have an e.a.r CD player. When you look at it. How much time do we have to listen to music? I find well recorded music through a great dac going up to Dsd keeps me pretty happy. Resonessence did a great job. To get better you are going to spend 8k plus easy. Sd cards rock!
@ everyone heard resonessence on the new bowers Wilkins d3. It sounded pretty good. Sd cards! No hard drive. Not power up ply from computer. No computer jitter. No problem
Guidocorona, I am a fan of the Vienna acoustics. The have a rich textured and neutral sound. I heard that The Music speaker also has the bass and wider soundstage that the others miss. I put my resonessence mirus dac on the Beethoven baby grand se and I liked the sound. Guitars and violins were excellent
Guidocorona. One a few could stop de musik it's a wonderful pleasing speaker.oh so musical. Vienna acoustics rich and textured
@guidocorona. Now that is an integrated I want to hear. Please update us of your thoughts on it. It's on my must hear list.
Fellas please report out on this one. This Daemon is an interesting looking piece. Hope it sounds as good as it looks. It looks amazing!
@tbg yup dealers are closing and dying off. The whole audio hobby is changing when it comes to being able to hear gear.
Resonessence mirus dac is at CES in Vegas this week being used at the High fidelity cables booth