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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
agear
1,362 posts
 
ketcham
65 posts
02-13-2016 12:13am
Given my personal experience, I believe the internal Ethernet to I2S will beat Ethernet to high grade server to ODSX by USB.

That was my bet.....

ben2300's avatar
ben2300
6 posts
 
I Personally heard DAVE from CES 16. Any also an TT owner. I have to say they changed period. Chord DAVE is alot to offer and for it price i say it is really amaze for < 15K Dac-Pre-HeadAmp with all current standard.

And DAVE is at the highest reference level on Chord lineup. and i say people should give a listen and see what they had to offer.

And Yes, i would put DAVE against Esoteric and DCS level with the same price point.
bill_k
918 posts
 
Despite the reports of its exceptional sound, there is one operational issue I have with DAVE is described on page ten of its manual:

Dave has two menu options specifically tailored for PCM or DSD playback. You can play both PCM and DSD music using either mode, but each one is specifically optimised for a particular format. In order to cycle between each mode please highlight the segment and press both left and right navigation buttons simultaneously for one second.

PCM+ - Use this for PCM playback up to 768KHz. DSD playback up to DSD256 is also supported but it is decimated and not optimised in this mode.

DSD+ - Use this for DSD64, 128, and 256 (single, dual and quad speed) playback. There is no decimation. PCM can still be played and this mode is ideal for streaming video with audio as it has a lower delay.

Before changing modes please stop music playback and mute your amplifier to allow the clocks to resynchronise and avoid incorrect playback. Please note that when switching between PCM+ or DSD+ modes there will be a 20 second delay where the display will show ‘Mute’. This is to allow the unit to program, and for the system to settle.

This is a significant limitation to me, since you can't effectively play a group of tracks that are a mix of PCM and DSD formats decoded optimally without decimation. If you only play PCM or DSD files in separate sessions or can live with a 20 second reboot when changing between PCM and DSD then this is not an issue.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,407 posts
 
If anyone can please clarify:

I understand that the Chord FPGA DACS internally convert DSD to PCM for playback. Is that correct or I have not heard the right thing?

I am looking for a DAC that would "play DSD natively". My definition of native would be - if I purchased a audio file in DSD, then the DAC should not convert it to PCM for playback or other reasons. (I am not going into the argument that the music was originally recorded in PCM and then converted to DSD, they way it was sold to me.)

Can someone please confirm?
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Can't confirm, but personally I just listen to how things sound and never worry about how it's recorded.  I've heard both sound good and both sound like crap.  IRT the Chord DAVE, that would be a deal breaker for me for sure.  There are potentially some really nice DAC's coming to market at the 13k level.

Empirical
EMM
Bricasti
Aesthetix
Chord

I'm sure there are others.  I also see some really promising devices under 2k now also.  It's almost like there will be a big chasm between price points pretty soon.  
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