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
Thanks for sharing Matt.  I knew how busy you have been and feel badly but you are doing special work for others and that's commendable in a BIG WAY.

I too in recent days have been talked into Ethernet with Roon and possibly HQPlayer.  Not to hijack, but would love to know others thought of HQPlayer also as it's ultimate digital.  

Matt, I have decided (well 90%) to set up a QNAP 471 NAS.  It has the set up on the QNAP site.  The first slot as I said above if for the SSD that runs Roon.  Bay 2 and 3 are for the 6TB storage run in Raid 1. The 4th bay is to be set up to automatically do a weekly back up of the 6TB WD green or red hard drives.  That will all be set up in the room that has the router and then I'll figure out how to install a run directly to the stereo system or I'll do the wireless set up with the Apply extreme deal like I've seen in so many high end audio stores. If someone else has a better idea many of us are more than willing to listen.  Thanks. 
Look at "optical network configurations" under computeraudiophile, network subforum.  Without question, cheaper and provides galvanic isolation.  It is a very long thread so start in chunks toward the end.   Optical Network Configurations

There is also a new thread on how to run Roon from your NAS:   Official Roon Build for Synology and QNAP   A more formal article is forthcoming by Chris C.  

Matt, when you are ready email me and I will help you through that process.  It is no harder than USB setup and in some ways easier.

Will do Ketcham. Thanks. I need to do something. I gave my neighbors Aurender back and miss it terribly. Time to 


You might look into Trinity DAC as it got rave review about its PCM capability. Better than MSB/DCS stakcs as everyone been saying. 


I liked the Trinity when I heard it, but honestly, it didn't blow me away as some of the higher price DAC's have.  JMHO, but I have a friend who had one last year and sold it.  Not even sure what he's running now, but it may the the full DCS stack as he was going on and on about how much he liked it.  

Ketch, thanks so much for those links. Time for me to start learnin bout new wave digital again....thought I had been doing this over the last two years, but I guess not enough, lol.