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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
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

Thank you LabTec, yes you are right... To each his own. I am delighted that you love all your tube and SS amps.


Personally, I do not seek amps that emulate the sound of anything in particular. I seek devices that instantiate the sound signature and musical concept that I have in mind.


Being essentially maintenance-free, not doubling as furnaces, and enjoying a stable performance without tube replacements, are also very desirable characteristics for me.


Today, a pair of Rowland M925 class D monos give me amazing nirvana... To a greater extent than most amps I have ever auditioned. Interestingly, they are highly reliable, are very efficient, and their performance remains stable over time. What more could I wish?! 


Tomorrow, I might discover amps that yield an even greater degree of enchantment. M925 might be replaced by some low or moderately biased class A/B amps, or I might still be with some class D device.... Class A and high powered tubed amps are unlikely to make the cut for the reasons mentioned above, but I do not exclude them apriori.


Bottom line is that I follow neither "the road less traveled" nor "the more traveled" one... Fact is that I could not care any less about the number of travellers on a road, and which topology "most people" return to... I only seek that which gives me audible joy, evaluating amps one at a time solely on their own particular merits,while keeping as open a mind as I can to the world around me.


G.

jh901
67 posts
 
Hi Matt- you will be auditioning the new EMM Labs DA2?  The DA2 (and the DAC2x) convert PCM to DSD, right?

Is the new Chord DAVE on your radar?

- Josh
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Hi Matt,  I read the pdf file on your burmester 911 mk3 amplifiers,  said nothing about class a/b, said a lot about being class A operation. 
labtec
189 posts
 
Matt, what class D amps are you talking about?

You said they are better than A/B amps, but what about tubes?

i've been to countless shows (and I'll be at CES next week), so I'd like to check out any class D i may have missed.

I'm all for buying a class D amp if I can find one better than ARC Reference level tubes, but I haven't found any of these digital amps certain people claim "sound like tubes" yet.  Actually, none even close to that sound quality to my ears.  To me, they seem night and day different.

The closest thing class D I would buy at a certain budget range is the Lyngdorf which keeps everything digital until output and can provide room correction that provides a distinct advantage for many users.

The new Technics with CAT6 input and a LPS sounded promising too, but only the budget model had price commensurate with performance.

Otherwise, I can't recall any from recent shows.  If any digital amp should sound good, it would be Mola Mola given the pedigree of the designer. I can't say I was impressed with even their stuff, especially the price (to be fair though, it was limited exposure).

i always keep an open mind...errr...ear

guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

Hi Labtec, if you go to CES, try to have a look at class D offerings from


* Rowland: possibly present might be

- Daemon superintegrated ($42K), 

- Continuum S2 integrated ($9.5K). Roy Gregory's review at: 

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/jeff_rowland_continuum_s2.htm

- M925 monos ($58K) - based on NCore NC1200,

- M825 stereo (approx $30K - based on NCore NC1200). Marc Michelson's review at: 

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/jeff_rowland_model_825.htm

- M625 S2 stereo (approx $15K - this one running in class A/B).


* Gato might show its newest integrated amps... I suspect you might enjoy more the one based on the Pascal M2-Pro than the S2-Pro version.


* Bel Canto should have its Black System, which is based on customized versions of the NCore NC1200 designed by Bruno Putzeys (approx $50K).


* On A Higher Note is likely to have once again the Mola Mola... It is a fine NCore NC1200 implementation, but you might find it a little forward for your taste.


* Hopefully, Merrill Audio will have its Veritas monos based on NCore ($12K). My review at:

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue68/merrill_audio.htm


* Devialet also makes fine class D integrated amps.... I find them a little too peaky for my taste, but my memory is of a 3 years ago, and they are likely to have evolved since then.



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