Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

That was supposed to be: Quad USB

Its always hard to give opinions on first impressions. I need to really listen to the MSB more....

My friend came over and he interpreted that same sense of needing to move the speakers as well, but he felt that it was due to a lack of image specificity as if there was a partial phase issue. I don't know if I agree in that I found image specificity to be very good and think that it was simply showing the limitations of my current speaker location. He heard that same lack of specificity on everything but said that one song was better then he had ever heard before, other then the singers image issue. again, maybe my brain was interpreting it differently but I didn't hear it that way. To me, the soundstage was wider and deeper with more space between performers.

After listening to several selections we flipped to the Emm. I had spent the previous hour and a half listening so I had a solid idea of what we were comparing...

The Emm definitely snapped the image into a more exact location but with a slight narrowing of the overall soundstage. In typical Emm Labs fashion it had more analytical accuracy but not at all sacrificing musicality or warmth. I don't like analytical ad yet the DAC2X gives analytical and musical without the downside.

It was truly a matter of preference as both dacs are truly sensational and blow all other dacs I have heard out of the water. I need to listen way more but he very quickly ascertained that he preferred the style of the Emm over the MSB. I am not so quick to judge (which you can probably read as his ear is more trained and better attune to discerning differences and he makes quicker decisions). I think I like certain things better about the Emm and certain things better about the MSB. I feel that the MSB is getting deeper into the soul of the music. But I need to figure out exacty how that is presenting itself. Considering the $42K vs $16K price difference the Emm certainly has nothing to be embarrassed about and takes a stand on presenting the music its way. My friend leans towards the analytical side and I typically lean towards neutral to, maybe, a scootch warm..

more listening and I'll report more...

Hi Matt, does MSB have a variety of upsampling and filter settings, or is it a "launch and forget" kind of DAC?

G.

At $42K you are in Totaldac Twelve territory. Actually, you can get into the Twelve 4 box cheaper (Mono dac's, reclocker, and server/reclocker). THIS is the one man. Truly, the one. You won't get a demo without a full deposit though, but it may be worth your while.

Having heard a quad DSD in German Physics room at the RMAF, I cannot imagine why anyone would want to be limited to 44.1.