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
This is NOT a thread on R2R vs PCM technolog.


" Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD" 
Sorry but you being the OP headed this.  

That's why it went down that path again after you gave such a good report of the R2R Multibit   "Mojo Mystique V3"  with comments like this.

SO, if you are looking for a single ended DAC you’d be a fool to not listen to the sub $6K single ended Mystique V3!

Of course, DSD lovers need not apply.

Then it's about "best for PCM RedBook" as you stated. And of course the talk will come down to technology.

I hope you do some more Matt from the list below, as it will broaden your horizons on what constitutes an great pcm RedBook dac.
  
As I posted there are many discrete R2R ones now being made (below) as R2R chip converters are unobtainable except for the military missile guidance one that Shiit uses, hopefully they do come back as manufacturing techniques improve to laser trim all those microscopic resistors to a minuscule % .0000001% or less without the massive costs of doing it.
There is a large market for them to come back to, if Delta Sigma can't in the future get the sound from PCM that these R2R's can, but I do admit the 6bit hybrid DS's are getting closer, maybe they just need to go the full wack to 24bit with no DS who knows. Just keep DS for DSD/SACD conversion. 

Up to $3k: Border Patrol, Monarchy, Denafrips, Audio-gd, MHDT, Holo, Soeskris, Metrum, Schiit

$5-$15K: Audio Note, MSB, Metrum, Computer Audio Design, Aqua, LessLoss, Totaldac, Lampizator

$15K+: CH Precision, Aries Cerat, Light Harmonic, Audio Note, MSB, Totaldac, Lampizator

**Special mention to MSB, Monarchy and Audio Note, who never gave up R2R. Even after the takeover of delta-sigma.

Cheers George



I am also in the side that thinks that all common architectures (R2R, DS, FPGA) can work when implemented with care.

Speaking of FPGA, have you read or listened to PS Audio and how they implemented the DirectStream Dac?

I think the technical descriptions are interesting and much more detailed than most other companies. I haven't heard the dac  but of anyone has any compared it to other dacs mentioned in this thread I would like to hear what you think.
Then it's about "best for PCM RedBook" as you stated. And of course the talk will come down to technology.

George, respectfully, knock it off. Everyone reading this thread is familiar with your R2R dogma.

I have personally had great results with D/S, but if I designed an R2R from scratch, it might be equally good.


Steve, your ethernet DAC only accepts PCM. How do you recommend converting DSD?

George, respectfully, knock it off.

Ah, respectfully that’ll be a big no! If you don’t like what you read, either don’t read it, or you can try to use the report button.

Cheers George