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Most musical player or DAC?

Forgive up front if there is other(s) threads on this. Thanks in advance for posting links if you know of them. I'm looking for a "musical" CD player or DAC. I've been through 4 cd players so far, they were all nice in some respects, but none have really grabbed me by the heartstrings (or lapels) and stopped me in my tracks with musicality. Don't know if I should be looking for a tubed variety or not. All I know is I want something that moves me. A very 3D soundstage, unbelievable midrange, good extension at the extremes. I would rather have romantic over detailed and analytical, but transparency and a sense of air would I think be also in the mix. Nothing laid back either, I want something that engages.

My listening tastes are rock, Soul, acoustic w/vocals (male/female), blues, R&B, a bit of electronica.

Any thoughts and experiences are appreciated.
tholt
tholt OP
551 posts
 
The underground raves refer to the original PS1 model #SCPH-1001 only. Its worth trying for ~$40 or less used, if you can get over the goofiness of it.
aljordan
46 posts
 
I third the MHDT Labs Havana. Judging from the rest of your system, you would enjoy the sound of the Havana, or another non-oversampling filterless DAC. The Havana has good linearity through the frequencies, with a little more presence in the midrange than solid state I've tried, and does not mask low level details so timing and dynamics come through very nicely.

Alan
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,311 posts
 
I'll vouch for the mhdt Paradisea especially with the NOS Tung Sol tube in place of the stock GE. It uses a Philips chip I believe. It sounds fantastically musical putting my digital in competition with analog as I think only a tube DAC can and I have no incentive to change.

mhdt Havana has a good rap also. I think it uses a different chip, the Burr Brown, but same tube.

The Paradisea + ARC tube pre + OHM Walsh speaker combo in my system is pure liquid and vibrant midrange heaven!
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