Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt,

you were asking about Servers a couple pages back. here is my 2 cents:

I have tasted the audio elixir of the gods.

PC server with win12 AudioOptimizer in core mode, using JRiver to upconvert PCM/DSD to DSD256 feeding properly setup Bughead Emperor as the playback engine....WOW.

Reel to reel quality. Spinners begone! Bughead is magic.

I heard this when I was in Warsaw for the audio show there (156 rooms, 11,000 visitors). it was at the lampi factory with his server and a Golden Gate Dac, but it does not have to be his Server, as any quality CAPs build will do, or the soon to be released bespoke Sound Galleries Server. the trick is how to optimize and feed Bughead, which is a shareware application.

You can build your own CAPs for about $4K or get an aftermarket one for $6K+.

So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind.

So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind.

So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind.

Sorry guys. I'm not sure why this posted multiple times