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
I know Lampizator Lucasz is a big Goldmund fan:

And last thing - one might say that I have a prejudice against Goldmund - but I don't. I simply cant stand the bullshit of their marketing. I think that everybody and every business has a right to bullshit people just a little, but goldmund is really pushing it to the edge.

http://lampizator.eu/Munich/Munich%20High%20End.html

Very funny stuff....
Gear, I agree. Not a fan of Goldmund spinner or TT tech, but I guess they were pushed to have a complete line for their very exclusive clientele and back then, a Spinner was mandatory and with less than 40 people in total, they had to outsource mechanical stuff like this and still keep the fancy pricing.

To me they are a Speaker and Amp company (they even made a tube amp and its displayed in the lobby of their HQ). they are very competent in digital as well. Nowadays, their software is top notch as they cherry pick the best acoustical Phds and combine that with university an corporate collaborations and hence their leadership position in Wireless. However, like all small companies they will have their vulnarabilities and perhaps 4D sound in Home Cinema is such an area?

Before I actually did a couple demos there, I thought they were all bling and little audiophile substance. Now I know better, they are ALL substance and the bling is only about their target market. Hopefully, one day Job will make their version of the Prologos wireless for real world prices. I am sure you will get 90% of the SQ for 20% of the price. By then, the Goldmund label will have new fancy cosmetic styling and Job will get the boxy look without the mechanical grounding stands. LoL
I agree Norman. I have read enough about Goldmund to know they are a serious company. I had read L's extended tirade about the 2009 Munich show before and found it amusingly transparent.

A lot of what they are fiddling with is the future. There is no doubt.
This Goldmund situation is disturbing as I'm way out my element. Are any of you able to distill the function of these speakers? Maybe start with the device which transmits the left/right digital(?) output to the receiver on the speaker. Is this technology audiophile approved? So then there's a DAC in each speaker and, as I gather, a DSP crossover rather than hardware. Whew. Wow. This set-up would be a game changer. Aside from Goldmund, who else in the hi-end is pursuing it?

-Josh
Hi Josh.

A few companies are going in the direction of all in one solutions. Diavalet, Goldmund and Kyron come to mind. There are others that are just not coming to me right now. They must stand on their own feet in comparison to separate systems, and do with great success in many cases. To some, it's a step off of the upgrade train; no more cable obsessing, etc. To others, it's an inconceivable blasphemy. Listen, learn and decide. That's what I'm doing. You can't look at any part as an individual entity since it is designs as a whole system.

I am heading tomorrow to hear the Dynaudio Consequence Ultimate and the Avalon Isis. I also have finalized an in home audition of the T&F Isis and potentially the PMC MB2 SE. I'll keep you posted on those as more info becomes available.