Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

07-12-15: Ctsooner
I have and love the OSDE/SE. I run them on the Treo's and Ayre AX 5 Twenty. I get all emotion when it's there, but it's not even close to vinyl. I've heard most of these DACS in my system except for the Lamp...I personally have heard them a few times and they don't do it for me. It's a personal thing and I'm not attacking any of you who have and love them. I also am not a PS Audio guy, but plenty love them too.

I like the Totaldac gear a lot and I like Bricasti a ton too. I've heard and love the full DCS stack, but it's still not good vinyl yet. It just isn't as relaxed as vinyl. I would bet that Matt is making much of his decisions on vinyl since I know how much he loves and listens to vinyl.

What Lampis have you heard? The Golden Gate is the closest I have heard to vinyl and its a considerable distance from the 7 in terms of performance (in my system). I do not own vinyl, ,but I have dialogued with others who own both, and this opinion is almost universal.

Agear - What is the Golden Gate's best input? Does it use the CMOS chip for USB?

I think many agree that one of the big Lampy drawbacks was its less then stellar usb input performance. Has that been corrected with the GG or is an Empirical Audio OffRamp still needed to get the most out of that inout?

Matt, dunno where you heard that from, but the Amanero USB is superb.IMHO Chipless DSD is ONLY via USB. Go read the raves over at Audioshark, and one guy there (Joe) didnt even try DSD on his Bal B7 until last weekend. AGear here had the B7 before the GG and feels the GG is a significant step up...and he is not one for gushing praise...not by a long shot! So when you see what he says about the GG, its not to be taken lightly.

I mustly use USB on my B7. I have an offRamp4, an OR5 on long term loaner from a pal, a Lindemann DDR and the ifi iLink and never use them.

BTW, please PM me at WBF, audioshark, computeraudiophile or Audiocircle, as PM are a PITA here.

Re: speakers, I meant the bigger Boenicke, so you are right.

The Kithara goes down to 28hz, so kinda full range. The resolution is superb. A pal was selling one a few years back to replace with the Coltrane and was second guessing himself all the way.

However, I dont know the Scaena and the Perfect 8s, so you may be correct there. I ~MAY~ get to hear the Tidal L'Assoluta soon and I expect that they will make my personal top speaker list. So far the Goldmund Annatta is the one to beat, impressing me more than the Apologue. The Franco Serblin Ktemas are another take no prisoners speaker, and cost about the same as Der Musik. Lemme just repeat again, dont let price twist you...the Kitharas are a HELL of a speaker and a stonking bargain to boot.

These Tidal speakers:

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?14152-La-Assoluta&p=328472&viewfull=1#post328472

All Tidal speakers are rear ported and won't integrate well into my room. Same for the larger Boenicke. The upcoming W13 looks great, but it's got a huge rear port. I've tried about a dozen rear port speakers and they just don't work in my room. Boom boom boom. Nodes activated everywhere. I think it has to do with my rooms stiff walls, completely sealed nature and the almost square shape of the room (15x18.5x9) with an almost doubling of the height to length. It just doesn't work with rear ports. Which eliminates a LOT of very fine speakers. Not that they are in any way bad, just not for my room.

And the USB issue was experienced first hand while I had my Big 6 Lampy here. The USB input was just terrible compared to the spdif. And everyone told me to try the off ramp to improve it. But I wasn't going that route. That's why I asked.