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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
oblgny's avatar
oblgny
738 posts
 
I just replaced what could best be described as a “vintage”  Musical Fidelity A3.5 CD player with an Oppo 85 after reading many, many positive opinions on Oppo in general.  I had previously perceived Oppo as “ mass market “ stuff, and while this is a universal disc player with outstanding reviews on its blue ray capabilities, it was lauded for its cd audio. 

And deservedly so.  The Oppo made virtually all of my redbook discs remarkably better in every respect.  The only discs it didn’t improve sonically were those that were badly recorded - which no player can manage.  Unfair though my comparison may be - the MF A3.5 is significantly older - the Oppo absolutely was an immediate improvement.  

And for $500 used.  One of the best dollar/value additions to my stuff in recent times.  Woohoo.  

Modwright KWI-200 Integrated
Marantz TT-15 Turntable
Sony HapZ1ES
Maggie 1.7i and Vandersteen 3A Signature
(Still trying to decide between these - tough!)

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
headphonedreams - I am also in the side that thinks that all common architectures (R2R, DS, FPGA) can work when implemented with care....

Hi everyone. I’m pretty good at using google. That said, may I ask the opinions of the folks on this thread for a very brief (sentence or two) explanation as to the advantages and/or disadvantages of "FPGA" in comparison to the other two architectures. Thank you.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

I'd have to think the DAC design (DS or R2R) may not be the dominate factor in achieving what you describe. Big factor though, certainly. I would think the room, the speakers and the recording itself would be more prevalent.

Sound quality in an audio system is of course a "system" thing involving every single part.  I feel that both the source and the speakers are the dominating factors.  In the case of my two different DAC technologies, I compared them head-to-head in the same system at the same time.  The D/S won hands-down.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio


audioengr
3,282 posts
 


Did they even use the same interface?


??? Of course we did.


So, which one was used??

The devil is in the details here. I recently asked a reviewer that did a DAC shootout what interface was used to make the comparison and he refused to tell me. What kind of a reviewer does that?

Did you really only use a passive preamp or direct to DAC for this DAC comparison?

This would give the Total DAC a big advantage, as its output is 6.4 Vrms max, compared to the Briscasti's 2 Vrms.

Another detail that could easily skew the results.

These types of shootouts must be carefully thought-out so a fair comparison can be made.


Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Steve, your ethernet DAC only accepts PCM. How do you recommend converting DSD?

I suppose it would have to be the playback software or static converter apps.  There is software that will do this I believe, like HQplayer.  Maybe a new version of dbpoweramp?


Steve N

Empirical Audio

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