Aolmrd - No transport. Only source is my Core Audio modified Mac Mini running Amarra/iTunes via a Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB cable. I will be buying Audirvana software as well to try it out.
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 $$$ DAC's into your house for an audition ain't easy.
Looking for musical, emotional, engaging, accurate , with great dimension. Not looking for analytical and sterile.
Putting together a reference level system.
My Source is predominantly standard 16/44 played from a MacMini using iTunes and Amarra. Some of my music is purchased from iTunes and the rest is ripped from standard CD's.
For my tastes in music, my high def catalogues are still limited; so Redbook 16/44 will be my primary source for quite some time.
I'm not spending DCS or MSB money. But $15-20k retail is not out of the question.
Upsampling vs non-upsampling?
USB input vs SPDIF?
All opinions welcome.
And I know I need to hear them, but getting these ultra $$$ 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.
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- 4405 posts total
I agree totally with Aolmrd1241, All this time of following this thread, I thought a transport was being used, Now that I have found out that it is not, this gives me a different perspective on the Imperical ODSE and other Dacs on this thread, as a matter of fact, The APL Dac that matt said sounded a little hard on the treble likly exsposed the use of a inferior cable like usb!!, I understand the Dac may need further burned in, However, All dacs sound incredibly better with a quality Digital cable, and then running quality balanced analog interconnects from the dac to the pre-amp or direct to amplifier! |
To bad,a quality transport would/could add a lot to the mix,at least for us dyed-in-the-wool spinners. Thanks. This is the reason why the DSD-S has a digital input on the back called DTR. Using the DTR input with the SDT-M digital transport that reads PCM (converted to DSD128) or native DSD from SD cards, the combo turns to an extremely nice sounding digital front-end that is practically impossible to beat with a computer digital source, at least in my experience. The DTR input can also be used with a disc spinning CD/SACD transport that has the same capabilities as the SD card one, but it is not yet available for US customers. Best wishes, Alex Peychev APL Hi-Fi |
- 4405 posts total