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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
wisnon
700 posts
 
Matt, if you do get a chance to listen, make sure its a newer one with the floor Bassplate "Bodenplatten".

I see you are a basshound! LoL

Good thread and I agree with Gear that the segue into other audio areas is well appreciated.
rohitmalh
14 posts
 
To my ears and on my system the lavry gold was the most emotional / musical dac compared to all the others I heard at the time that I bought my dac 2 years ago. sorry delayed response but I don't usually post much ..
agear
1,362 posts
 
08-02-15: Mattnshilp

I definitely am drawn to a truly full range speaker with deep extension, accurate reproduction leaning towards the forceful side; with a sense of impact and scale that some speakers sacrifice to reproduce the lower frequencies with more accuracy and a sense of finesse. I almost see it as live vs studio... Live is scale, impact and dynamic while the studio recording is more accurate with finesse and the gentle skilled hand of a studio engineer to properly reproduce every nuance.

In other words, you want to be this guy: https://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/images_maninchair.jpg?w=700&h=297

Is that a Jersey thing?
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Lol. Yes. I want to be that guy. But with a good stereo, a more comfortable chair, a margarita in my hand and a beautiful women on my lap.

Go Joisey!

;)
agear
1,362 posts
 
Ha! I knew it.

I share your sonic bias. Live but organic. I have heard a lot of stellar systems and reproduction, but I get bored as the auditory illusion is weak (sounds like a stereo).

One tricky thing is amp/speaker synergy. I have struggled with that part as much as anything. If your speakers are see through transducers, amp changes are glaring.

I have weaknesses for a lot of different types of speakers, and I am single driver fan. The best midrange I have heard out of a speaker in a show setting was from the Voxativ Impeggios (hooked up to a vintage Lector tubed CDP and 2W DHT mono blocks) at the 2011 Axpona in Atlanta. It was beautiful. Of course, when we popped in Jazz Party from Duke Ellington, it fell apart.

Voxativ now has a newer speaker with a dipole sub: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/voxativ/1.html

Steve Hoffman owns the first pair in the US whatever that's worth....

The Trenner still has my personal interest. It may be worth at least hearing the Ra to get a taste of their house sound. "Supposedly" live and dynamic sounding. The Isis is still probably the right model given your Jersey roots. They just need to choose a better name....
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