Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

audioengr - ....The question is: given both designs are excellent, which one sounds more live to you?....

Hi Steve. Not meaning or wanting to play on words here, but for clarification purposes, by "live" do you mean "authentic"? Thanks.

@gdhal

Even harmonic distortion is pleasing. It is higher order odd harmonics above 7th which are not pleasing and harsh sounding.

It looks like the R-2R DAC has equal amounts of even and odd harmonic distortion. The 2nd harmonic being the most important. Above 7th odd harmonics is where it becomes disagreeable to the ear. If the audio is filtered at higher frequencies (most older NOS designs have gentle roll off from analog output filters) then the lower harmonics will dominate and it could sound subjectively excellent.

This might be the key reason R-2R sound could be preferred for the same reason tubes are highly regarded for their wonderful sound...

A complete lack of harmonic distortion is about as dry and clean sounding as it gets - the latest ESS DS chip has extremely low 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion (-130dB in the mid range) which is exactly where you get most of the harmonious pleasing warmth in tubes. 

TotalDac (bit perfect) outperformed by the delta sigma Bricasti SE in a friend’s system I listened to extensively. .

Funny you mentioned these two, we had exactly this shoot out for a whole day on a reviewers system at his place in the beautiful Blue Mtns on his Wilson Alexia MkII, Gryphon Antillion Evo Signature my passive pre. We also went direct, with the same results.
The Total dac was far better than the Bricasti in every area, even the owner of the Bricasti SE conceded, and is going to sell it to go to R2R.

Don’t get me wrong the Bricasti was lovely and sweet and smooth, but not exciting when compared, it had no jump factor like the Total, that snapped your head back in disbelief with some of the dynamics, and yet it still stayed sweet and smooth when needed.
You could hear deeper into the music because of this expanse from quiet to loud. And it gave all this to you not from the speaker but all around it with an image and depth that washed over you instead of directed from the each of the drivers of the speakers, as if the speakers weren't there in the room.

Cheers George

shadorne - Even harmonic distortion is pleasing. It is higher order odd harmonics above 7th which are not pleasing and harsh sounding....

Hi shadorne. Thank you. Not all that long ago, Ralph (atmasphere) provided a wealth of information regarding harmonic distortion in this thread https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/full-detailed-sound-at-30-40-50-db (probably other threads to :) )

Your response is very much in line with what I’ve previously understood in this regard. In fact I understand there is "weighting" of distortion also at play. Noting that manufacturers typically provide "total harmonic distortion" and in some cases "intermodulation distortion", I had asked in that thread if manufacturer specifications could provide insight as to where the harmonic distortion is occurring. His response led me to believe "this can be tricky". Point is one may not readily be able to determine where the distortion is occurring, and may only be able to rely on subjective listening.

Your explanation certainly does make sense. Would you say then that the *implementation* is the dominant factor of listener preference between DS or R2R, or is the *distortion* now the dominant factor (again, in your opinion)?

Thanks.