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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
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Thanks for the info George. I'll still let my ears make the choice for me like most do.  Both can sound great and that's all that matters.  There is no one is better than the other right now.  Good DAC's on both sides of the isle as has been pointed out by Matt and many others of us who have or still do own both types.  
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Honestly he lost me again when he said something about Schitt beimg an expensive discrete.....::::

BTW ct, Have to correct you here as well, I didn’t say that read again.
  
Expensive was in reference to "discrete" R2R dacs
  
And "chip" versions which if you know are cheaper, which Schiit Yaggy uses, and the best bang for buck you can get, for converting PCM Redbook.

Cheers George
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

maybe one day they'll be able to make full 24bit again like the PCM1704 as cheap as the the DS from ESS and others, and we'll get back to proper conversion of PCM again, instead of a facsimile of it....

This is exactly the chip I used in my Spoiler TubeDAC.  Sounded really lifelike, but the Overdrive SE and SX using D-S left it in the dust for weight, detail and dynamics.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hello Steve N, 
George frequently to support his point says R2R is "bit perfect" whereas delta sigma is merely a "facsimile". As a listener I don’t hear R2R superiority. As a builder/designer is this claim true and if so is it an audible or meaningful distinction in your experience?
Charles
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
charles1dad - Hello Steve N, George frequently to support his point says R2R is "bit perfect" whereas delta sigma is merely a "facsimile". As a listener I don’t hear R2R superiority. As a builder/designer is this claim true and if so is it an audible or meaningful distinction in your experience?
@charles1dad
With do respect, I would just like to point out that not only does George make the claim as stated in your quote, but so too do many DAC manufacturers.
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