Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Not to steal or break the thread.. but MQA is a wholesale attempt to lock in all recording to a patented standard of dubious value by a small company looking to cash in. The notion that it is a ’wonderful improvement’ is all marketing hype. Yeah it might do something, but that something comes at a big price. Both in cost monopoly of control, and in digital rights management.
If you love the idea of one company holding your music hostage and which can make you jump through hoops from now until crack of doom for a trivial or non-existent benefit.. Then yeah go for MQA.
If you shudder at some doofus controlling music distribution from now on. Well you get my drift.

I just bought a new Marantz SA-10. It does not have MQA but had a sound good as anything ever made. I think MQA is a flash in the collective pan which I can only hope dies a lonely death. Regardless of the hype and noise being generated of late.

Pardon my excursion onto other matters than this thread..

@beewax 

+1 I agree. My strategy if I were to try to put some methodology to the task would be to

1) go for the most jitter immune, cleanest,  lowest distortion and highest SNR DAC available. This would obviously be a new DAC within the last year or two. It might be too lean and analytical for the desired goal of “musicality” and engagement tie tapping but you start with the bare truth and a reference signal.
2) Get the most resolving SS power amp - Benchmark ABH2 looks impressive. Again the power amp should be powerful and transparent - a Bryston, Pass Labs, Krell - there are plenty of choices.
3)  Roll preamps and roll preamp tubes until you find the desired sound. 

I think the strategy of using using every component (DAC, Preamp and power amp) to ALL create or add musical warmth is a never ending uncontrolled dog’s breakfast. 

Another alternative would be to stick with one manufacturer - go all ARC for example - at least there is a good chance that the equipment has synergy to begin with,

+1 @beewax   


I agree. I would suggest to use the cleanest high performance DAC I could find for the most resolving line level source signal and then use a tube preamp and roll tubes to taste for the musical taste. This approach is much more flexible. Buying a DAC with tubes built in is kind of limiting or restricting yourself...

@toetapaudio 

Not all Class D should be described in this way

My comments were limited to "the Class D amplification I have owned"  or specifically, a pair of monos using Ncore NC1200 modules and matching SMPS.