Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Brightness is of course subjective, however there are some key things in a DAC design that can cause this perception:

1) out of balance dynamic response

This occurs when the power subsystem cannot respond exactly the same speed to a low-frequency transient as a high-frequency transient. Low frequency transients require power reserves. High-frequency transients require fast regulation and low ESR decoupling caps. Even though the DAC measures perfect for frequency response, the dynamic response can be and usually is out of kilter. It requires both excellent voltage regulators as well as optimum mixes and locations of decoupling caps to achieve the correct balance.

2) Compression

Compression is when the active stages, whether discrete, op-amps or tubes cannot react linearly under all circumstances. Circumstances such as high energy bass, high-level signals or fast transients can sometimes push active stages too far and they cannot react linearly. They may behave differently when amplifying low-level signals versus high-level signals. Local heating in integrated circuits or current sharing in the on-die power distribution can cause this. Power supply and decoupling can also play a role. Reflections of significant power back to the output driver can cause it to go non-linear (see #3).

3) insufficient output drive or reflections

The output drive must have low-impedance. It must behave the same when driving difficult loads and easy loads. However, like a high-Q cable, a low output impedance and fast slew-rate has its downside: It must be critically damped for HF reflections. Many DACs do not have any termination and this can cause harshness at the leading edges due to HF reflections. Even though reflections are an RF or digital phenomena, these can occur on the output cable. The question is whether these affect the behavior of the output driver or not. It is best to put a treatment there to address this IME.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

AGear - Thank you for your input. I am, by no means, a professional reviewer and appreciate your six moons quote as it better describes the MA1 in a more objective description then my own. If you could maybe provide some links to professional reviews for the gear I am auditioning it would be appreciated and helpful to the group at large. I have neither the trained ears, acoustically corrected room, expansive vocabulary nor elocution to properly review gear in the objective manor in which the pros can do it.

As I said when I started, I am simply saying it like I hear it with no bias other then what sounds best to me, in my room, with my ears. What I heard from the MA1 lacked emotion as compared to the Aeris and OverDrive. It did not engage me the way the other 2 did; I spent more time analyzing and less time lost in the music. To me it was not simply a matter of bright or dark, nor analytical vs slurred. I think in a different system and a different room it would shine, but not mine. I would also imagine that for a reviewer it would be an ideal DAC as it is miraculously accurate in both it's soundstage, imaging and reproduction of tone.

My apologies to all for the limitations in my room, my ears and my ability to objectively convey what I hear with the gifts of a reviewer. As Popeye said, " I ams what I ams...."

But I'm getting closer to my objective and having a damn good time doing it, and talking with some really good audio guys along the way like my new friend AGear, Charles1dad, Merrill, Audiolabyrnth, Steve, Guido and 2 dozen other guys. Isn't Tay what it's really all about?

Matt, you have nothing at all to apologize for since you made your intentions very clear. You have been up front about your specific situation and objectives (i.e. only being interested in a DAC's 16bit/44kHz performance.) Your efforts are still very helpful to many of us and appreciated. Keep up the good work and glad to hear that you're still enjoying the process. Sometimes such evaluations can become tedious and less than enjoyable for many of us with less patience than you obviously have.

Matt,
A big attraction to your thread is the honesty, don't change that, continue to call it as you hear it. A friend of mine who has heard many DACs described the EmmLabs just as you, he didn't care for it. Everyone has an opinion about something, some love this and others love that. Matt just do your thing and continue to enjoy the experience.
Charles,

You rock Matt!!! G.