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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
agear
1,362 posts
 
07-13-15: Bill_k
Matt - with all due respect I think you may be referring to the XMOS USB input receiver chip, which is used in many high end DACs including the Bricasti M1. CMOS stands for a Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor, a technology for constructing integrated circuits but not related to USB input circuitry.

That is highly amusing. Outing our technical ignorance. We all know just enough to be dangerous. That reality still does not temper our baseline of arrogance and fountain of quick opinions.....
agear
1,362 posts
 
07-13-15: Ctsooner
I know that Steve is using the XMOS for his new DAC. Gear, I heard the 7's and they just didn't do it for me. Again, there are plenty of digital products that I do like, but I also can't justify the price of some of them as I see too many new products down the immediate pike that will most likely be as good or better and they may possibly be in the 5-7k range or less. I just feel we are in that cycle with the new digital gear with all the break throughs and new knowledge. that bodes well for all of us going forward though.

You need to hear it in your own home as you stated. You cannot evaluate a piece via the speed dating of shows. Most digital products sound digital.....therein lies the problem. Maybe George's clever and cheeky suggestion is the answer.....:)
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Agear- I don't think Bill meant it like that. I was kidding with him afterwards. We all make mistakes about gear names and tech. I'm not perfect and I appreciate being corrected. Hell, I'm married 20 years- I don't think I've been right in at least 19 years!!! :)

I'm very curious to see if his new generation of dacs can beat the current generation. Let's see.....
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Curious if THIS new generation.....
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Josh - that's an interesting list idea. I don't need the names of the designers but it would be interesting to see if i gravitate towards similar tech dacs (type of chip, ladder, chipless, etc). It might help me narrow my search in the future.

I know the Rowland DAC was software based and I loved it. But the PS Audio is chipless also and I didn't like it so much.... The APL was excellent and I love my ODSE. Anyone know, off the top of their head, which chip the apl and ODSE use?
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