Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt,

I heard the MSB V Diamond with Galaxy clock at RMAF.....if only on CD....which was disappointing as I wanted to hear it in high rez PCM. but my impression on the familiar piano CD that they played is that the Trinity dac I'm now using is better, more tonally complete and more non digital sounding. granted; it's thru a whole different system than my own so any concept of comparison is provisional.

but if you are considering a dac that sells for $42k......then the Trinity dac starts to become a consideration. and considering the thread title.....

I'm just say'n....

the Trinity dac continues to astound me with it's magic. if the ultimate PCM is your goal.....I think this is it.

I've been a huge dsd fan for 15 years, and my 3000 CD's had sat 'dormant' for maybe the last 10 years unloved. with the Trinity dac as the impetus, in the last month I've ripped 1500 of my 3000 CD's and acquired more PCM hirez. I now have about 7-8 terabytes of PCM to go along with my 8 terabytes of dsd. I've been having so much fun getting reaqauainted with all those CD's that now sound superb.

YMMV, just my 2 cents, and all that stuff.

Regarding all of my DAC reviews and options I will restate over and over, as Wisonon very eloquently just did, that my opinions are just that. I chose what I like most in my room and my system. Pretty much every DAC I have heard can be the front end of a killer system with the right marching gear, right room and right ears.

Case in point is the differing of opinion on the gear I bring in with my friends who come to listen. I had someone else come over yesterday who much preferred the warmer sound of the MSB. This stuff is all SO DAMN GOOD that none of them are losers. It's all opinion, in this case my opinion.

I just try to report the differences so that others can use them to pick the voicing and qualities that they think would best match their system and their tastes. Consider it a community service blog. Lol.

I will say I have had universally positive responses with no negative comments regarding my Burnester gear (other then that my room is hot) and my Consequence Ultimates.

I'm sitting right now to listen for an hour or so to the MSB. Let's see how it sounds after running it nonstop for 3 days.

Thanks Mike. I have heard amazing things about the Trinity. I look forward to getting my hands on one.

I was surprised at Vince's choice of speaker at RMAF for such a sophisticated system, to be honest. But having the essentially same DAC in my home for about a week now I find its overal tone and texture to have been well represented on the Quads. I have been told that the faster clocks increase resolution and reduce noise and jitter resulting in an ever more analog sound overall. The "warmth" of the MSB is described as our brains interpretation of a lack of noise and jitter giving a sense of analog resolution more akin to LP. I see and hear that, I do.

At this level it's such personal preference and the way it melds into the system....

With an inherent level of "warmth" in my Burmesters I find the Emm to mate a tad better then the "analog resolution" that the MSB is providing. Maybe a faster clock would change that, maybe not. But I also think I haven't listened close to enough yet to really settle in to an opinion.

Your experience and input are greatly appreciated Mike. Thanks.

Matt, can the MSB DAC be tuned through upsampling settings and filters, or is it a "launch & forget" type?

Never read anything about poor Vapor quality? Oh my...