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
Matt - Here are a couple of simple and inexpensive things for your power:

Have the electrician install plastic flexible conduit terminating to plastic boxes. Get black, white and green THHN 12 gauge wire and have them precut and twist the black and white together using one person holding one end of the wires and the other with the wires in a drill pulling against the other and then loosly wrap the green around the twisted-pair. Pull the wire through the plastic conduit using a fish-tape. then install good outlets like screw-connection Pass and Seymour. No need to get crazy with the outlets.

The plastic boxes and conduit does not restrict the electric fields and therefore does not restrict the dynamic current flows.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
There is a good review of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSDSse in the latest TAS Spring Buyer's Guide issue, with an interesting comparison using the Off-Ramp 5 usb converter in and out of the chain.
Jon - could not find it in buyers guide issue.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
There are only reviews of mini-DACs in there and the best-rated DACs page does not include the W4S. Are you talking the November issue of TAS?