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
08-03-15: Mattnshilp

I spoke with the T&F dealer. He insists the Isis are too big for my room and the Ra would do me just fine. He says they go down to 25hz without an issue but the web site says 40hz. He seams to think the Ra are the greatest things since sliced bread. I need to look into the Ra more to see how low they go.....

I have heard the Aerial 20 and I thought it was a tad bright. They are coming out with a new 12 or 13T (don't remember which # is it) and it may be bottom ported and it will use a soft some tweeter. About 9-12 months out. I own a pair of 10T's and I love them. They live in my Family Room and I will never given them up.

I just need to decide if a 2.5 hour drive is worth it to get my ears on the Ra and BMC speakers.....

Bob told me they have used the Isis speakers in smallish hotels rooms? I think it may be setup dependent. I am interested in the Ra as well and was actually going to fly down to TX to hear them (Bob has the entire lineup at his home). My MO was finding a speaker for a standard living space. The wife wants to move in the next year or so, and I need a speaker that can be easily used in a normal living room (crammed against a back wall) with small creatures running about. She HATES my current granite monoliths (which are superb speakers but look like sepulchers). I asked about the bass on the Ra as well, and although they measure to 40 Bob claims they spit stuff out in the 20s due to their horn loading. I also like the idea of a high efficiency, wide baffle design with directivity that "limits" the room. I have Viva amps and they often mate those two at shows.

I like Aerial. They are one of the few companies that is able to make ribbons sound tonally correct. Great speakers but I have only heard older models.

I have always liked High Water's rooms at shows. The Cessaro horns are nice as are the Horning stuff....
T&F are great speaker builders, but I see the RA is indeed listed at 40hz , f-6db. The Isis is 28. Perhaps as Gear says it could be the room setup. The ISIS loaded the good sized mini-conference room at Zurich show and Andreas was not there and asked me what I thought. When I told him, he seemed genuinely disappointed, so it could have been a setup issue indeed. Andreas is a straight shooter who I trust.

Golden ratio.
Gear, I have your email addy, so I can send you some pictures of the Zurich room with Isis to get an idea. I can also send pictures of the Fischer& Fisscher Granite sopeaker and the Rowen with the LMT tweeter.

Matt, sorry buddy, but you didnt send you contact details and you cant post any pix here. IF AGear has it he can Fwd.
Norman, specs are deceptive. Some panels (Audio Analysis) have bass extension into the 20s but it is perceived as thin due to the physics involved. The same holds true to the Ra apparently. Bob Clarke has measured into bass output into the 20s. Proof is in the pudding I guess....
T&F certainly has made even more pro measuremnts and put in on their website. I am sure all these speakers roll in the 20s but the SPL trails off dramatically, and hence the -6db at 40hz!

I have heard the RA, Pkharoah and Isis at shows and can tell you the bass otput of the Ra is really full range and clobbers the others.

Got my email yet?