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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
With all due respect to George I’m inclined more toward Elizabeth’s explanation in attributing the void or black hole effect to the recording method or process.
  I don’t believe that delta sigma can be the blamed in a broad brush fashion as the culprit.

 I love the fact that there are so many manufacturers now bringing back R2R Multibit, even though many are now mostly discrete ladder, and expensive to make, and shrugging off dsd, for better pcm replay.
It says to me  there was something about PCM conversion that was not quite right when done with DS conversion.

Owning and doing many mods for myself and customers on both with I/V stages and output stages from the very first DS mash players and R2R players And listening to many.
 There is something missing with DS when it has to convert PCM, it's not just an emptiness, but missing a bogie factor that gives excitement to the music, and a snap your head back slam, even though the DS measurements show better sn/dr figures.

It's as though DS converting PCM is most of the time too polite, eg: boring. But it does do dsd/sacd well, but I still find it lacking in excitement with these formats especially sacd..

Cheers George   
Post removed 
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Very interesting, D’Agostino and SET tube amp would seem to occupy polar ends of the amplifier spectrum (topology and philosophically). What do they share in common for both to warrant your recommendation?

I can speak for my own modified SET amp.  Very fast and great bass control.  Same with D'agostino amps.  Some of the best I have heard at shows.

I am a fan of tube SET amps though and would not have SS for myself anymore.  Tubes are just more linear and less prone to temperature and dynamic effects.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
There is something missing with DS when it has to convert PCM, it's not just an emptiness, but missing a bogie factor that gives excitement to the music, and a snap your head back slam, even though the DS measurements show better sn/dr figures.

I don't experience any of this with my D-S DAC.

These are more a result of poor digital filter and poor power delivery IME.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Steve N,
Thank you for your reply and I see the common ground of SET and the D’Agostino amplifiers. Speed and transparency as a shared trait. I find SET unsurpassed in terms of "naturalness ".

George it’s comments such as yours that prompted my DAC comparisons mentioned above regarding R2R vs delta sigma. I respect your perspectives but my direct listening did not match your assertions. IMHO either approach can yield superb results. I don’t hear the delta sigma limitations/flaws as you describe.

Steve N puts the blame on digital filtering and power delivery quality and this makes sense to me. This would cause effects  for both DS and R2R for better or worse dependant of level of implementation and execution.
Charles
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