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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
ctsooner
2,104 posts
 
Matt, I'm hoping to take the train down to the show this year. Not sure what days I'll be going though.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Mattnshilp, I have tried a very full range of room treatments and only found one that works very well and as a plus also is relative unobtrusive. I need to premise this by saying that both of my rooms are largely symmetrical. One is a 18' wide, 25' long, and 11.5' high and the other is tiny 10' wide, 13' long, and 8' high.

In the large room I have electronic isolation, LEDE, Tubetraps, Roomlens, RPG diffusers, acoustic mirrors, Harmonic wall dots, Syn. ARTS, etc. Most improved some problems, but most also had liabilities. Then I read a post by someone here on Audiogon about Zilplexes from the Netherlands. I got a set and initially was disappointed but learned that the one of eleven pieces that went on the ceiling was crucial but I had been unable to reach given the high ceilings there.

When I later used all eleven properly in my small room including the one on the ceiling, I was dumfounded as the room boundaries vanished! I returned them to the large room and managed to reach high enough to install the ceiling unit. Again I was struck by their benefit.

It is hard to understand how eleven 1/2" silver hemispheres sitting on three points on acrylic wall mounts can do what they do, but do they work! I think now that you have to order them directly.
mattnshilp OP
894 posts
 
Wow. Those Zilplexes are crazy!
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Matt, Here is an interesting development… Esoteric has announced/released new versions of its fabulous K-01 and K-03 players, to be called K-01X and K-03ZX respectively. Apparently they use some trickle-down technologies from the Grandioso multibox flagship players. I absolutely loved the original K-01, with slow Delay 2 filter and 4X upsampling, but I do not know how the K-01X DAC component driven by your MacMini via USB would compare to OD or even Aeris.

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/k01x/indexe.html

Compatibility with high resolution source material is delivered through a free High Res audio player, downloadable from:

http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/hr_audio/indexe.html

Saluti, G.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Thanks for the heads up Guido! The K-01X looks like a pretty killer player given it is based on the flagaship Grandioso. This new model with DSD USB input would have to be regarded as one of the top single box players in the high end market. The free media player download is a good idea as well.
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