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
Thats great to hear Mike! its nice to know we can find landings to relax and enjoy for lengths of time as we slowly climb this crazy mountain. Sounds like the Trinity might be as good as those initial reviews suggested.

I tried a few of the upsampling and filter settings. Upsample 3 doesn't work (I think its a test sample that needs to be removed from what I was told). Upsample 2 and 1 are subtle but 2 seams to highlight the low frequency punch a bit more and widen the soundstage a bit. I haven't decided overall if I like upsmapling on or off yet, but it definitely gives a perception of accuracy over turning it off…

The filters were way more dramatic. On a quick listen (had to run to work) the 32x seams to romanticize things a bit compared to the 16x which seams to be more neutral. the 16x also highlighting trailing edges more giving each instrument more life and character. The Lanczos filter sorta freaked me out a bit… It gave me detailed and highlighted little ancillary sounds that I had never ever heard before. Clicks of a stick on a drum and taps of a stick on a high hat; fingers actually plucking strings. I swear I heard someone sigh at one point in the recording. The 16x did this as well but it was more uniformly integrated into the music. The Lanczos actually highlighted those ancillary sounds to almost a distracting level. On initial attempt, I prefer the 16x. I didn't try the minimum phase setting yet. next time...
Wisnon,
I get it man. It was just a suggestion, and is obviously a contender, given the caliber of the current pieces under eval. That's ok here, right??
I mentioned the Vitus RD-100 dac earlier, but I have to say that as my current Vitus SCD-025Mk2 dac plays in, I have been astonished at how resolving and analogue-like this dac is. I previously owned one of the best Delta Sigma dacs ever made; a Vimak DS-1800Mk2, and the Vitus is on a whole nuther level. The SCD-025Mk2 is essentially a full Signature series dac, with a heavily modded Phillips Pro2LF transport. Vitus use ADI1955 dac chips, a new in-house designed & built upgradeable master clock, new I/V converter, new analogue modules etc and is basically a whole new beast. Vitus use sample rate conversion and achieve a sample rate of 384kHz with 24bit resolution. The analogue stages are taken from the SL-102 preamp & the multi-regulated power supplies are built around very efficient UI-core transformers (ala their Signature series power amps). It is a top flight dac & deserves to be playing at the top level of RB standard converters.
Branislav, it must be different strokes for different folks. I went to that room and turned around and left.
I wish I could have been there. Maybe I would have done the same, who knows :-). I'm coming next year for sure...