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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Steve N,
Very interesting, D’Agostino and SET tube amp would seem to occupy polar ends of the amplifier spectrum (topology and philosophically).  What do they share in common for both to warrant your recommendation?
Charles
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
With all due respect to George I’m inclined more toward Elizabeth’s explanation in attributing the void or black hole effect to the recording method or process.
  I don’t believe that delta sigma can be the blamed in a broad brush fashion as the culprit.

 I love the fact that there are so many manufacturers now bringing back R2R Multibit, even though many are now mostly discrete ladder, and expensive to make, and shrugging off dsd, for better pcm replay.
It says to me  there was something about PCM conversion that was not quite right when done with DS conversion.

Owning and doing many mods for myself and customers on both with I/V stages and output stages from the very first DS mash players and R2R players And listening to many.
 There is something missing with DS when it has to convert PCM, it's not just an emptiness, but missing a bogie factor that gives excitement to the music, and a snap your head back slam, even though the DS measurements show better sn/dr figures.

It's as though DS converting PCM is most of the time too polite, eg: boring. But it does do dsd/sacd well, but I still find it lacking in excitement with these formats especially sacd..

Cheers George   
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I have to disagree about DSD converting PCM!
The player I just auditioned at home for five days, a Marantz SA-10 converts all PCM to DSD and then uses DSD to make the music unfold.
The Marantz uses a unique arrangement of DSD hardware.
And I have to say the music produced from CDs by the Marantz SA-10 is marvelous.
Even when imported via Toslink from a five disc CD player.
So much so I am buying one ($7000) and have it on order.

No way would I do this if the CDs sounded like SACDs usually do!!!
I own maybe five SACD. and 2500 CDs... I plan on using the SA-10 mainly to play CDs from a separate changer. LOL

As I previously mentioned I think SACD sound strange. And the fact is the CDs played back by the SA-10 sound like CDs, just more detail and a lot better treble
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Very interesting, D’Agostino and SET tube amp would seem to occupy polar ends of the amplifier spectrum (topology and philosophically). What do they share in common for both to warrant your recommendation?

I can speak for my own modified SET amp.  Very fast and great bass control.  Same with D'agostino amps.  Some of the best I have heard at shows.

I am a fan of tube SET amps though and would not have SS for myself anymore.  Tubes are just more linear and less prone to temperature and dynamic effects.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
There is something missing with DS when it has to convert PCM, it's not just an emptiness, but missing a bogie factor that gives excitement to the music, and a snap your head back slam, even though the DS measurements show better sn/dr figures.

I don't experience any of this with my D-S DAC.

These are more a result of poor digital filter and poor power delivery IME.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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