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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
aolmrd1241
1,046 posts
 
Matt said...”This is NOT a thread on R2R vs PCM technolog. Nor is it a thread on why R2R is the ONLY design that should be used, George.”

George. This is the OP’s thread..not yours. Show some respect and move on from your tiresome lambasting of everything that does not fall within your narrow minded nomenclature of all things R2R. Start your own thread and have at it there...
Post removed 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
"I have faith in the average audiophile" Elizabeth,  I share that faith. 
I assume that the thread participants are adults capable of independently forming their own judgements.  The  repetitive dogmatic   approach can alienate and thus be unintentionally counterproductive.  
Charles 
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Sorry for the delay. I just came home from a week long trip to London and Paris. Great family time. Loved it all. Looking forward to getting some solid listening time in this week though. Yes, I missed my stereo.... I went to one store in London but it turned out to be a tech store more then Audio. Apparently, Diavalet have crossed over to mainstream mass market audio....

I won’t have much to report for a day or three, so let’s run off topic for a bit and hear about trips you guys have recently taken to audio related locations. Shows, intentional trips to audition gear, concerts, anything that involves music, gear and traveling.

Should be a fun diversion.
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
welcome back buddy.  Glad that it was a great trip.  Elizebeth, I too have heard that marantz.  I think most equate it with their mass market stuff.  Most have not heard their reference gear which is very nice sounding.  I like warm and not 'hot' gear.  I don't put your DAC into either category.  I think it's a fairly neutral sound with a bit of dynamics.  If anything, the soundstage was a bit more intimate than say the Empirical ODSE/SE that I owned.  Steve's gear threw huge stages.  The Marantz seemed to me to be a nice piece.
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