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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
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ksattic
9 posts
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Chord yet.

The Chord DAVE is the most advanced DAC in the world. It uses an FPGA (field programmable gate array) to implement a proprietary DAC which achieves a noise floor and reproduction accuracy better than anything else on the market.

http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/product/dave/
wisnon
700 posts
 

Ksattic, you have to read everything. Not only was the Dave mention, the OP had one and it broke. He said so a few posts above.

Almost all the mid to top Dacs have FPGAs, though they use them differently. Chords proprietary tech is NOT the FPGA, but their firmware, ie the WTA filter and the Pulse array Dac, all executed on the blank canvas FPGA. Though I like the Dave, its not the absolute sound winner you make it out to be. Many people prefer other Dacs, including the YGGY which costs a lot less. I myself prefer a tube Dac and own a Lampi (no Dac chips at all, R2R ladder and chipless DSD), though I also own a Qute EX too.

respected_ent
189 posts
 
Too bad there is no way to search for a particular dac in this thread in a quick and easy way.  I find this thread very valuable and thanks to OP and everyone who contributed.  I am using Ayre Codex right now and will upgrade later down the road.  I will definitely use the information in this thread to help me pick out my next dac.
dragon_vibe
430 posts
 
@ksattic - That's exactly how Chord marketing team have you believe.
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ksattic
9 posts
 
@wisnon I'm fairly new to Audiogon - didn't realise this thread went back to 2014! Will read back.

As you say, Chord implement the pulse DAC and filtering in FPGA. Many other manufacturers have FPGAs but I've only even seen them used for filtering (like the Ayre).

I did have the chance to A/B the Ayre QX-5 Twenty vs the Chord 2Qute and I preferred the latter.
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