2. digital
  3. 1398132150

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
 
Linn and Meridian are both hard to come by. I’ve thought of them several times. For servers, I think part of the issue is that they are proprietary. You need an entire server
dac infrastructure to make it work. Even so, they both have great reputations and I’d love to hear the new references meridian DAC and a linn Server. I’ll try.
fuzzbutt17's avatar
fuzzbutt17
75 posts
 
Benjamin from Mojo Audio here...

Just got one of our demo Mystique v3 DACs back from review.

We’ll be sending it out to Matt on Monday.

As soon as one of our demo Deja Vu music servers comes back, we’ll be sending it to Matt as well.

Looking forward to reading his impressions.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Matt, I can possibly get you the Linn set up.  I've head the ref Meridian a bunch and it's not my cup of tea at all.  
neoshah
33 posts
 
Lot of this footer are also rack + gear dependent , also how you place them under your gear.
I was playing with the position of the stillpoints ultra ss under my meitner ma2 & the positions of the footers can shape the sound quite a bit. Needs quite a bit of patience.

Would be nice if you can audition the Linn klimax . I've heard it a couple of times & it did sound very good.
Also waiting to hear your views on the Mojo stuff.
All the best
Cheers
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Thanks Neoshah!

100% agrees! Footers are EVERYRHING dependent. Rack, gear, location under gear, etc. I’m trying to be as methodical as I can be. You guys know that I try to do things as scientifically and reproducibly as I can. That’s why I renamed my YouTube channel The Audiophile OCD. LOL.

I think that I can give a general feel for the footers and Racks that should be used as a guide. I have found CLEAR advantages to some footers over others. So there are definitely better footers out there. I’m trying to identify those and then chose the best for my gear and my rack (or new rack). And report, as usual, along the way.

I look forward to the Mojo. I’ll try it in both my home and office systems. They are very different.
More to discover