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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
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
So far I have not found any sound quality problems with Roon - you may want to try it. I have known for a long time that most softwares (especially Amara Jriver and others) tend to colour the sound. I don’t know if Steve is aware but the SRC converters in Apple core audio are terrible - it is very important to make sure no conversion takes place in core audio (iTunes has its own much better SRC converter built in to the software). I used a software called Bitperfect to ensure Core Audio automatically matched the file sample rate back when I used iTunes. Even Tidal has implemented the ability to control Apple core audio to ensure good sound quality.

My overall approach is to totally avoid all SRC in software and to disable all software processing (even volume control) and filtering - perhaps that is why I don’t have all the typical problems everyone reports. Software engineers or programmers are like DAC designers - most haven’t a clue when it comes to digital signal time series processing (these are full semester courses in 3rd or 4th year engineering). Software can work one day and then an update comes along and trouble happens and one might not notice....best to turn everything off.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Matt - I found another good playback software, Twonky. Initially it did not work with my Ethernet renderer, but they issued a new beta version that does work for me. SQ as good as Kinsky, but I think it is a bit more stable and maybe user friendly. It is not released yet, so I’m using the beta version.

I don’t know if Steve is aware but the SRC converters in Apple core audio are terrible - it is very important to make sure no conversion takes place in core audio

I know this. I avoid iTunes like the plague. I have used it in the past with Amarra as a playlist navigator. I don’t do any SRC anymore. I used Wave Editor in the past because it was the best, but I don’t find the need anymore. 16/44.1 sounds fantastic on the ODSX.

BTW, today I plan to compare on the same hardware Roon versus DLNA using either Twonky or Kinsky. The only difference will be software. I want to determine how good Roon software is. If I’m going to design a Roon interface, it had better be as good as my DLNA.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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grannyring
6,507 posts
 
I find Roon very enjoyable and use the DSP feature to good effect with no noticeable degradation in sound quality that I could detect. I use the EQ tool as well as volume leveling and up sampling at times. Wonderful!

I did not like engaging the headroom feature that some reviewers seem to love. Just robbed the music of a little life IMHO. 
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Steve, what do you now recommend I do with my Mac mini server that you sold me?  I still have the old Amarra etc...  Should I keep it off the internet totally?  I've been using the USB port that you marked as best SQ.  As you know, I'm not technically great.  Tidal is currently streamed in the Ayre QX5 and not the Mac mini.  Thanks.  I can call you if needed to get your answer or be talked through set up, lol....
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amg56
887 posts
 

I had a dilemma with playing iTunes or JRiver, rips and other music files downloads with an equality of sound on my Antelope Zodiac Platinum Dac. The timing crystal is completely environmentally isolated so the timing is stable all the time (I leave mine on all the time). I wanted to convert these to the same bit depth and sample rate and in .wav format (storage is so cheap now). I use Aul ConvertR 48x44 PROduce-RD software to do all my conversions to my NAS which is my ROON server. I can play from NAS, stream from Node or Naim, play via Ethernet (for reliability) and Airplay through my Yamaha amp, (soon to by upgraded bigtime). I can listen to internet radio (preselected or me typing my favourite radio's ulr). My sound is uniform, until I play MQA and then the clarity is much improved. The thing is uniformity. You cant get a 16/44 CD quality file to be HD. What the Aul ConvertR software does is give you a means to input any format to (any) format you choose and change the bit depth and sample rate along the wany. It makes a big difference. The developer has also worked with JCat audio components for PCs. I used their gear to output quality sound via usb to the DAC and out via HD800 h/phones. I now convert all files from PC to NAS and play via Roon. Best sound ever, even if my system is not worth $10k all up. (This will all change when my new house, with a dedicated media room is built. I have project system worth well over $100k going in and the sound will be sublime...  sorry for long blog, but its a big subject.

Adrian

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