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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
2,480 posts
 
Dave_ten, what is the budget?  I have finally gotten the Memory Player DAC integrated into their server.  It's special.  They are still working on it and we are waiting on the Stealth Caps to arrive, but It will end up being in the discussion of top DAC's built I think.  Soon Matt will have one in his system to play with I think.  It's worth keeping an eye on as I think Mark (the designer) is onto something specially.  It does have two small signal tubes in it, but the sound is impactful, tons of micro and macro info for that emotional pull on music and it's got great totality so far and it's not broken in and it has many upgrades to come.  We will even be pulling it out of the server and it may become a two box DAC.  Just not sure yet.  I like how they have dealt with the digital volume control, but mine also has an analog one too and in time, we will build that up to a world class preamp. This way I'll be able to run a great stereo or set of mono's off the DAC .

I"m actually shocked about this DAC as I haven't expected it to be this good.  I am playing mostly 32/384 and 24/192 cuts. Some are direct from a high end analog rig (not sure of the A/D converter used).  I have to say the Memory Player server and DAC has far exceeded my expectations so far and the best is yet to come as the prototype DAC will be much improved going forward.  Will keep all posted.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
"

@david_ten - If you like NOS PCM DAC designs (no DSD), I suggest you check out the Metrum Acoustics Adagio which is their top of the line. It incorporates
a unique volume control implementation which varies the operating voltage of the DAC rather than adding in an additional stage or digitally implemented
volume control. It provides a continuous volume control without typical losses or compression most other designs exhibit."


Sounds like a perfect description of the volume control of my Jeff Rowland Aeris... Yes, not the newest DAC on the market by any stretch of the imagination, but particularly when powered by the external PSU power supply, an amazing maker of music.


G.

audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
@ ctsooner,  Is this a ps audio component?, are you beta testing?, what's your affiliation?  Thankyou in advance,  cheers 
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
Any recommendations for an upper tier DAC with a very well implemented volume control? I'm looking for DAC first components (and not Preamps with a DAC module...if that makes sense...). Thanks.

@toetapaudio @bill_k  @ctsooner  @guidocorona  Thank you. I will look into your recommendations and get back to you should I have specific questions.
mitch2
4,023 posts
 
@david_ten  
Any recommendations for an upper tier DAC with a very well implemented volume control?
I can second the Metrum Adagio that was already recommended by @bill_k.  I owned the Adagio as well as Metrum's Pavane at the same time and after several weeks of side-by-side comparisons, I chose to keep the Pavane and have it upgraded by Metrum to their Level 3, which means the interior build is at the same level as the Adagio, but without the volume control. 

The sound of the Adagio is very close to my upgraded Pavane but I already owned a preamp that I like very much and I liked the sound through my preamp just a little bit better than through the Adagio alone.  This was probably due to some minor coloration, possibly caused by components in the preamp including AN tantalum resistors in the volume control, Jupiter copper foil caps, Lundahl transformers, or other circuitry.  The Adagio had slightly better resolution and both sounded super clean with good staging, tone, bass, and plenty of drive.  If I didn't already own that preamp, I would have kept the Adagio and been perfectly happy.  There is probably "better" in some way but for a simple solution that gets you off the merry-go-round the Adagio should certainly be on your list.

FWIW, Steve Nugent's well-regarded Empirical Audio DACs also adjust volume by changing the reference voltage.  I think there may be at least one more that does that but I cannot remember the name.
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