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Worlds best DAC

Went to CES this year to work on my transition to high Rez digital. I've heard many of the highly regarded players in my room or in others systems in the past. I'm actually very happy with my current cd based sound. As I listened to various DACS playing CD then high Rez, I was not bowled over. High rez was better, but only slightly so. The best (and most different) sound I heard happened to have one similarity. They were 2 non oversampling DACS with tube analog stages(Zanden and Ypsilon). These were without question the most natural sounding digital systems I heard at the show. They made CDsound miles ahead of high Rez. What gives?

PS: I understand the limitations of show auditions.
bflowers
bhobba's avatar
bhobba
303 posts
 
No mate - haven't heard the Lampi or done any comparisons with it.

I did hear of one with a PDX and another DAC I cant recall with the Lampi - the PDX won that one.

I have a big DAC shootout coming up - the best 4 DAC's I have yet heard - the Killer, The Phasure, the PDX and the Playback Designs. Date not set yet - my Killer hasn't quite been built yet. Each one is hand built and tuned to the system it will be used with. Mine will be set up to use the Off-Ramp via I2S, and either the DAC or my amp adjusted so no pre is used - it will be direct connected.

Thanks
Bill
wisnon
700 posts
 
Since this thread is about world's best, then you should ask about the best Lampi, which is the Level 7 with DSD!

Only people in Hong Kong have heard it so far, as 3 were initially made and another 3 are on order acording to Lukasz. They are also ordering Transports and demanding GM70 amps as well (even though they were initially only going to be made for Europe).

Another Dac that should go in the mix is the Phasure NOS1, as that is getting great feedback as well.
wisnon
700 posts
 
Since this thread is about world's best, then you should ask about the best Lampi, which is the Level 7 with DSD!

Only people in Hong Kong have heard it so far, as 3 were initially made and another 3 are on order acording to Lukasz. They are also ordering Transports and demanding GM70 amps as well (even though they were initially only going to be made for Europe).

Another Dac that should go in the mix is the Phasure NOS1, as that is getting great feedback as well.
aplhifi
515 posts
 
In my opinion, the "best DAC" would be the one that works in Pure DSD mode (that means converts PCM to DSD as well), and does not use D/A conversion chips which send/upsample DSD through Delta/Sigma modulators.
Lastly, there shouldn't be any solid state components on the signal path, after the DSD D/A conversion (usually an FIR filter).
Now, that is really hard to find. :-)

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev
APL Hi-Fi
bhobba's avatar
bhobba
303 posts
 
The Playback Designs does pure DSD and converts PCM to DSD.

The Phasure eats it alive using PCM. Its closer via DSD but the Phasure is still clearly better.

Prior to the Phasure the best sound I had heard was DSD using the Playback.

The DAC shootout I am organizing will have both those DAC's as part of the mix and should prove interesting for that and other reasons.

Thanks
Bill

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