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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
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Hi guys

My recommendation for a world class dac would be the Mola Mola designed by Bruno Putzeys from the ground up using their own discrete dac chip. The claim is that the design totally isolates jitter. 

The dac is only available at this time incorporated into their preamp. Sometime early next year a stand alone version will be available. Cost including the preamp is £11,000. The preamp can also come with a phono stage if required as an optional extra.
bill_k
912 posts
 
Mola has been touting their stand alone DAC for well over a year and yet it still doesn't exist. Their engineering skills are very well documented but they seem to have some issues delivering a finished product to the marketplace.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

Mola Mola is an extremely small company and Bruno Putzeys is the heart and soul of the company. Mola Mola's DAC, while having a very small footprint, is extremely complex. I am not surprised that it is late. On the other hand, the delay may be caused by an external factor, like it happened on the Kaluga amp, where the construction of the casing by external suppliers turned out to be challenging.


Regardless, Putzeys is a major luminary of the industry, and his work/product is worth following... Patience ever remains golden.


G.

 

toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Hi lalitk, concerning MQA. Do you like MQA, then? Some very well respected designers I know do not regard it with any seriousness. To them it's more of a commercial exploit. What's your take on it? Roon, is another matter and is being taken up by designers I respect.

Instead of MQA , perhaps what is needed is a better A to D at the recording stage?
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Hi bill k, Mola Mola are very thorough and won't release a product until they are satisfied they have the best outcome.  The dac in the preamp is brilliant and I'm expecting the stand alone dac will sound just as good. I don't believe there will be a great price difference between the stand alone dac and the pre/dac.
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