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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
paul79
174 posts
 
This DAC looks VERY interesting to me....

http://aries-cerat.eu/products/digital-processor/kassandra-series
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Thankyou everyone, I have been reading these new descriptions of sound and really didn't know what rich sound meant, although I knew what warm sound was, interesting, let's see what others may say?
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Warm - what my room feels like after about 2 hours of listening.

Rich - what I have made the dealers I bought all my gear from....
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hmmm Agear, you mean to imply that there might be more excitement than mere gain of encyclopedic knowledge gained by interfacing a Babel-fish with an ear canal?

G.
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
George's techno babble was great, I enjoyed that actually. But his incessant ranting about there only being ONE and ONLY ONE way to convert digital to analog quickly became counter productive and was killing the thread.

As far as that definition goes, I resemble that remark!!!

Sorry all for the delayed review. I have been getting practically killed at work and it's been relentless. I may get a chance to listen again Monday. But I feel that everything is so new and not yet burned in that I'm just giving lots of first impressions. I'll do my best. But take my impressions with a grain of salt. Early impressions don't necessarily imply accurate impressions.
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