Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Steve,

Op-amps are far from perfect, even though the textbooks would lead you to believe it. However, like most things, the answer is "it depends". It depends on how the power for the op-amp is treated and what op-amp you are using. I have done a lot of experimenting with op-amps in the past and learned a lot of things that are not in the textbooks. If you choose the right one and treat it properly in the design, it can be just as good as a discrete circuit and sometimes better because the layout of most discrete circuits does not allow for optimum power delivery. The compact nature of chips allows for optimum power delivery.

Sure, I have also experimented extensively with OpAmps. The only one I currently admire as much as a discrete circuit is the newer MUSES01 by JRC. But I use it in my phonostage.

Even the reduced out-of-band noise of Sigma/Delta DACs calls for a very high slew rate OpAmp, but those never delivered what I expected. My opinion, of course.

I never claimed that S/PDIF is the best method for DAC input, but again the answer is "it depends". If the circuit is well-designed, a good coax cable is used and the right receiver chip is used, it can be every bit as good as the best internal USB interface. So close that no one can pick it out in A/B comparison. I have done this.

I was referring to the Berkeley claims. Of course, you are correct that USB can be as good as S/PDIF (or vice versa) if done correct. That is also my experience. But USB offers a much higher resolution that is desirable, at least for me.

Best,
Alex Peychev
APL Hi-Fi

"Although they are very good, I preferred the DAC in my room, the ODSE."

But, of course!

That does not suprise me, DCS has been on top of the digital world the last 25 years!

09-11-14: Aplhifi
But even Almarg (or anyone else with such extensive experience) would agree that the new Berkeley converter should at least make possible for DSD64 through the S/PDIF inputs via DoP format and let their customers decide whether Pure DSD is better than DSD converted to 176/24 PCM.... Please correct me if I am wrong.

Having no specific familiarity with the tradeoffs that might be involved, I take no position on that. My only point, as I said in the first of my posts dated 9-10-14, is that "quality of implementation is likely to trump the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of any particular design approach."

Audiolabyrinth, thanks for the nice words in your post yesterday.

Regards,
-- Al

A few minutes after submitting my post just above I received my copy of the October 2014 issue of TAS, containing the Berkeley review and interview Erik referred to earlier. In the interview Michael Ritter of Berkeley addresses in a reasonable amount of detail his rationale for not including a USB interface and DoP capability in the design.

His comments about the lack of USB are very much along the lines of what I said earlier. His comments about the lack of DoP IMO represent a credible, plausible, and well stated design philosophy, especially for a component in this price range. I certainly recognize, however, that similarly credible and plausible cases could be made for opposing philosophies.

Accordingly, I would not categorize the arguments on either side of the coin as being BS, or as being grounds for either rejection or acceptance of a particular candidate. Again, "quality of implementation is likely to trump the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of any particular design approach." But after reading the review and interview, like Erik if I were willing to spend $16K for a DAC I would certainly put the Berkeley on my short list.

Regards,
-- Al