Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Thanks for sharing that last post. I too am going to switch to the powered Vandersteen Quatro for just that reason. I have the opposite situation to Matt's in that I have my system in a medium size loft and the back wall is 43" tall (same height as my Treo's and the Quatro is similar, but I lost some of that room pressure. We all have our cross to bear, lol.

Most of the rooms I've listened in have too many contraptions etc... Fix one, start another.... Once I listened to ONE person whom I learned to trust, my room not only started to sound better, but I loved my system more...

Matt, I totally agree on vinyl. That's why I have been upgrading. No matter how good the digital is getting, it just doesn't do what vinyl does. I do wish I had a reel to reel and metal tapes though ;).....

Disheartening that digital hasn't yet caught up to turntables. No one can say you didn't put any time into trying, Matt! I'll remain blissfully ignorant since getting into vinyl isn't realistic.

Maybe there is merit to MQA?

Do members here, generally speaking, make an effort to select the best digital mastering work for a given album?

- Josh

06-22-15: Mattnshilp
JH - I have given up directly spinning CD's. I rip them or download off the web.

I have actually started spinning more LP's as my system gets better and better. Analog is incomparable.

So does this mean the dac quest is back on?

No, I am more concerned about the music's interpretation. G.

Not at all.

Please don't misinterpret my statement. My digital front end is my primary source and will remain to be due to its convenience. But I must admit that every time I have heard an analog rig in the same system as a top tier digital rig, the analog rig just sounds better. Of course, most of the digital source has been red book. Hi-Rez gets closer.

I'm just reporting that, imho, properly done analog still has an edge over digital.