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've decided to give up the life of audiophilio-Insanitoriim. From now on, I'm only listening to music through cassette tape on my 1984 Sony Walkman and Koss headphones. And with that, it will ONLY be Flock of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song. Good bye cruel world!!!

What's the point anyway, in 2.7 billion years our precious Galaxy will collide head on with Andromeda galaxy and be ripped apart, sending the Earth and my entire tape collection to the nether regions of the ever expanding Universe.

Alas..... Alak........Anon......
Matt, you are a real pessimist... You do not take into account the repulsive effect of the Dark Force on the standard gravitational interaction of our Galaxy and M31. We will have some exciting times some 2 billions years from now, when we are finally able to tell if we crash into our neighbor or not.

So please.... Do squeeze in a new Orander review during the next 2 bils or so... Before everyone gets all hot and bothered making bets on the big event and forgets about servers and stuff.

G.
Gentlemen, be aware that this Saturday a very large asteroid is projected to pass us by at a distance not much greater than the distance of the moon, at a speed of about 78,000 miles per hour. If the calculations are wrong for some reason there may be a good deal less time left for Matt to complete his evaluations than we think.

-- Al :-)
Matt,
I actually read your review of both the Antipodes vs Aurender, I must have just forgot.

Looking forward to the next match: Aurender vs Berk ref.