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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
wisnon
700 posts
 
The Mini is a lot cheaper!!!

Dragon...I do use a SS Integrated amp. It's a NAD 375BEE modded with negative output impedence by  www.rowen.ch. This is to compensate for speaker line losses  and to ensure stability at peak power demand times.

My speakers are Heil AMT. Currently I have the Kitara running with the Syrinx. All Heils run perfectly in Phase, so they can run together. As the amp can handle bursts of up to 750wpc into 1 ohm, its a piece of cake to run these speakers in parallel.

Matt suggeted that these speakers may have a special synergy with Lampi Dacs and he may be right, though I think its more with the amp, to be honest. The amp also grips the woofers well and keeps themas tight as possible.

Speakers can be seen at www.precide.ch



ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Looks like we are morphing into phase two, while always keeping phase one alive.  Servers!  That little bug a boo.  Why have servers gone untreated if you would?  So many DAC makers are NOT in the server business. I am just waiting on the companies to make servers that connect to their DACS AND are synched to each other as that's where digital fails.  This is why we all are looking at other devices like SOTM, that is used in many DACS and or servers not named SOTM.  Why can't the clocks be synched?  Is there no universal deal for them all?  Timing is digital's major shortcoming.  Be it jitter or whatever, it's the timing that is what makes analog better to this day.  

I will watch this thread keep evolving as Matt goes through his audiophile struggles to get the best sound he can afford in his room.  

guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

Excellent point about servers CTSooner.... How about your or Matt start a much needed


absolute top tier Music Servers


thread. I for one do not know enough about servers.... But eventually would like to migrate from my beloved Esoteric X-01 used as a transport for all my CDs to a server with integrated solid-state storage. Rather than broadening this fine watering hole to include servers sub-topics, it would be nice to have a sister thread concentrating on SOTA servers.


Saluti, Guido

   

mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
I'm hesitant to start a second thread since this one has SO much recognition. I think I'd prefer to just chat about music servers here as we meander about. 

Ive thought about starting a Facebook page. But that would split attention and could get complicated. I'm leaning towards just letting this thread morph and flow as we go. 
talk2me's avatar
talk2me
325 posts
 
I have had a GNSC modified Wadia S7i, Marantz, ModWright Oppo 105 and Burmester 069 ($$$$). I now have a ModWright Elyse DAC with tube rolling and it is the best digital I have ever heard in my system (Venture, PranaWire, Concert Fidelity and modified Magnus MA-300.
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