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
@willemj   

You are correct - it will be less of an issue but still an issue. A lot of reissues of classical and jazz are boosted to clipping level too but you are correct they are often less compressed overall.

The CD Homage To Duke by David Grusin is one of the best jazz recordings I have heard and it is recorded at a very low average level with tremendous dynamics (needs to be cranked 3x higher on the volume dial compared too all my other classical and jazz).
@klh007

Thank you you for the correction! I was not aware of Lyngdorf having also implemented a solution.

It definitely makes a huge audible difference as Doug Shroeder points out in his review of the Benchmark DAC3 and AHB2 Amp.

https://www.dagogo.com/benchmark-audio-dac3-dx-ahb2-amplifiers-review/


@shadorne 

Thank you so much for that filter information. May I ask your opinion then - and I realize this is somewhat off topic thread, apologies to the OP - which filter (all names are listed below) to use in the case of an Oppo UDP205, which you know uses the Sabre ESS9038 chip?

The manual provides no detail what-so-ever as to the nature or function of each filter. I'm told "brick wall" is meant for "diagnostics", so I've avoided that. Based on my own listening impressions, I find the default mini phase fast to be preferable. "Apodizing" is the term Steve mentioned, but that was applicable to all of these filters, true? (note there is only one specific filter named "apodizing")

In your previous post to me (01-15-2018 12:00pm), it would seem one of the "linear phase" filters would be your choice, true? 


Brick Wall
Corrected Mini Phase Fast
Apodizing Fast
Mini Phase Slow
Mini Phase Fast (default)
Linear Phase Slow
Linear Phase Fast
Musical Fidelity M6si > Belden 5T00UP > Golden Ear Triton Reference (pair)

Schiit Yggdrasil > Canare L-4E6S XLR > M6si

Oppo UDP-205 > Belden 1694A (Canare RCAPs) > Yggdrasil

Emotiva ERC-3 > Belden 1800F AES/EBU > Yggdrasil

Samsung SMT-C5320 > Mitsubishi Eska POF > Yggdrasil


The Yggdrasil has a very good S/PDIF receiver, the AK4113. Same one I use. The results should be stellar with any good low-jitter source. Unfortunately, you are using very poor S/PDIF cables. See my cable jitter plots here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154425.0

The DAC in the Oppo is not great, but should sound decent with a low-jitter source using the balanced analog outputs. The Emotiva is inexpensive, using many mediocre op-amps, if its the one I am thinking of. I think the analog section of the Yggy is probably much better, as is the I/V converter and power supply. I don’t think it’s really apples-to-apples to compare Delta-Sigma to R2R with these particular DACs.

If you are using Oppo as a transport with 1694A, you are getting a LOT of jitter see these plots:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154408.0


Steve N.

Empirical Audio

If you are using Oppo as a transport with 1694A, you are getting a LOT of jitter....

Hi Steve. Thank you so much for your feedback. As to the jitter, this is somewhat of re-hash of recent communication between you and I in another thread. I’m not disagreeing in that regard, however, I’m essentially relying on the Yggy to "do its job" and cleans the incoming signal (at least as best that it can and purports to do).

Of course it makes sense that to feed any DAC signal which is clean to begin with is preferable/better, and I imagine at some point I’ll investigate that. By this I mean both transport and cable. Also, at the moment I do not optimize the sound potential of the Yggy because I power it off/on each listening session, a cardinal sin by some folks standards.

Keep in mind I’m happy and content with the current sound from my system. And while I haven’t personally heard hundreds of systems, as you probably have, I have heard more than a dozen rather high end systems, including one with a pair of 200K pair of Alta Statement tower speakers and comparable gear to go with it. I’m confident in the overall sound quality level of my current system. Can it be improved, sure. I suppose this is one reason why the forum is so valuable; to get ideas and implement where practical.

I chimed in on this thread because it was (past tense) my understanding that delta sigma is lossy. To that end, you, Al and Shadorne have educated me to the contrary and I no longer believe that. Of course, I reserve the right to change that belief should some "higher authority" offer into evidence data to the contrary.

Given the many posts in this particular thread, it would appear there is no absolute top tier dac for standard redbook, at least from the technology perspective. I get what you, Shadorne, Al and others are stating about the "implementation" of the technology. Nevertheless, in the very end I’d have to think that subjective listening impressions and preferences could prevail.

And in my particular case I understand what you’re saying about a unfair comparison of multibit and delta sigma on the basis of my components (because of different overall quality and price points). But at the moment, short of spending more money, I'll have to live with what I have. I can only report my findings and preferences based on what I currently have, so in this context, I prefer multibit to delta sigma.

Steve, I remain very appreciative of your kindness and information.