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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
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Here's the update:

i am in the thick of comparing the ODSX and the Emm DA2. I will hold reports until I am done. 

I ordered a Chord DAVE DAC and am going to arrange an Antipodes DX (version 2, which is supposedly light years ahead of the original version). Dave (Audio Doctor) is coming over Sunday morning with a Davinci LightHarmonic DAC, the top tier T&A DAC and the Baetis music server. We are going to have a huge shoutout between the Emm DA2, ODSX and N10 with his gear. Should be VERY illuminating.

My Chord DAVE and DX should be here in a few weeks.

I'm trying to arrange to get the CAD DAC and CAT music server in and have arranged for the TotalDAC DAC 12 & Music Server to come early summer. I'd still love to arrange to hear a Rossini in my room; I have some thoughts on that. 

Yes, there are a few reference tube DAC's I have not considered; I'm ok with that. Apologies to those who are tube dac fans. It is what it is. If you feel strongly enough for me to include them then you can arrange with the manufacturer or a dealer to contact me and arrange an audition. 

Also gonna have a buddy come over this summer (CTSooner) and bring his Ayre DAC so we can compare that little bad boy to the big bad boys. 

Fun times are afoot!
limniscate
241 posts
 
Excited to read about the results.  Make sure you guys volume match.  A friend and I thought we heard all sorts of differences between the Schiit Yggy and the Ayre Codex.  Once we volume matched, neither of us could tell any difference.
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Agreed Limniscate, volume matching is super important. Little differences can make one DAC sound more dynamic then the other. 

I find that listening to a piece and identifying the equipments strengths and weaknesses, and then playing the same piece on the other equipment and doing the same is more effective then flipping between two pieces actively during a song. Flipping allows a more direct comparison, but does something wonky to our brain while listening. 
rbstehno
1,495 posts
 
How about the latest directstream with the bridge II installed. Sounds very good to me compared to a lot of dacs listed here. Using the bridge, it uses  I2S internally. Finally I'm able to get rid of USB which I used for many years either going from the computer music server into a dac or from my Auralic Aries (which sounded fantastic, better than some of the others listed in this thread). Get a Gb network setup with a good quality cat 5/6 cable going in the bridge II and forget about servers in your audio room and ditch USB
klh007
621 posts
 
mattnshilp, I see you are skipping tubed DACs and excluded the AQUA LaScala, but remember the top line from AQUA, The Formula, is all SS, worth a listen.
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