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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
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

ct - thanks for the kind words.

Since the ODSX review came out, I tried a different player software than Jriver.  Minimserver with Linn Kinsky.  This actually sounds more live and more impactful than Jriver.  Not sure any reviewer would be willing to do this though.  A bit more work to install both of these and configure them.

This is yet another datapoint that shows that the volume DSP in these players mucks-up the sound quality.  I wish all of them simply had a bypass for the volume control rather than maximum setting.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
I spent a lot of time on Sunday at the Schitt table. I know I'll get flamed for this, but I really felt let down. I heard their top offerings in the most recent form I'm assuming and wasn't impressed.

You won't get flamed at all.

The Schiit Yggdrasil isn't for everyone. It's akin to what Jerry has to say about the Grateful Dead.

“We're like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.”
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Thanks G.  I really wanted to love it like you guys do too.  It's all good.

Steve, I totally agree with you.  Do you think it just has to do with adding more layers and chances to mess up the signal?  If not, why do you think it's like that?  Why wouldn't they offer a bypass to go purer?  
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
“We're like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.”

Like most things, there is licorice and then there is fine licorice.

ct - It is the DSP feature of volume control that virtually all of these players force your data to be processed through.  I think it's just easier for them to set 0dB for DSP code than to bypass it.  Also, it takes yet another knob in the GUI to bypass it.  Maybe they are afraid that some users will inadvertently set this knob and blow up their speakers, even though the volume control is set to low. Liability...

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

klh007
621 posts
 
@ct, Would you consider letting us know which DACs you did find playing above the also rans?
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