Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Guys, there are some very real DAC's that will hit the market in the next year or so. I think that folks may want to hold off a bit on upper end DACs/Servers as things may just blow up in the next year. I can't share the companies right now as I was asked not to, but we all know Steve is also coming out with his new upper end DAC too. there are only a handful of DACs that I personally enjoy as I still love vinyl, but I have been enjoying Steve's OSDE/SE a whole lot for the same reasons Matt has his. We've spoken a bit about it. I think Steve just gets the digital and analog filtering correct. I have liked Berkley's newest DAC, but I really need to hear the mk II vs the Overdrive and I hope to do that in the next couple of weeks when I head back to NJ to listen at my dealer there.

Mhdt non over sampling dacs check all those boxes and could save you thousands. I use SS Constantine and tube paradisea. I've heard and coveted dcs and others for reference and these keep me satisfied.

I agree with Ctsooner, and am personally looking forward to hearing the new Chord DAVE which is scheduled for production in October. It's a technological tour de force that has the potential to be a game changer although it won't come cheaply. Hopefully it will live up to such high expectations!

Josh

I downloaded the Yale firmware in my DS over the weekend and let it burn in for a few days and have listened for a few hours. I had stop using the DS with PP for a month or more since I purchased the Bricasti M1 to try. The DS with either PP or Yale is a few steps behind the Bricasti in every way. I haven't compared the PP to the Yale directly but as some has said on the PS Audio forums the Yale is lacking in the inner level details on cymbolls and lacks the natural bite on say a sax or trumpet. It seems like the tried to warm the sound up and remove some of the edge people didn't like on PP and they went to far.

Jeff

ModWright Elyse DAC (with a decent transport like my Esoteric) for sure. It kills my old Burmester 089 and x-Great Northern Sound Company Wadia S7i. First thing I did was tubed rolled in a Philips rectifier and 2 Siemens grey plate'60's CCa's. I even had the Elyse's digital designer come over to my house for a listen.