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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
 
The DAC shootout will only be the DAC's I mentioned.

If someone wants to send a Lampi Level 7 to the Gold Coast drop me a line and it can be included.

These are privately owned DAC's and represent the best 4 DAC's I have heard in my quite extensive DAC listening over the years.

Thanks
Bill
bhobba's avatar
bhobba
303 posts
 
Alex Peychev wrote:

'This just proves the fact that "best component" is only a synergy between all components in a given audio system. :-)'

Oh boy is that true - but it goes way way beyond that.

Checkout the following review of a speaker that I lent to a guy in the US but thought, what the heck, while it was over there would get it reviewed prior to me selling it:
http://www.stereomojo.com/LENEHAN%20ML1%20REFERENCE%20SPEAKER%20REVIEW/LenehandML1ReferenceSpeaker.htm

You don't see reviews like that - but that's purely because most reviews in magazines etc are full of shite.

The truth, the utter truth, is there is no best, there is no better, all there is is what people like in their systems. Two people can listen to exactly the same system - one goes - WOW - the other BLAH. I have seen it, and even with gear that by any objective measure such as waterfall measurements is a lot better.

Thanks
wisnon
700 posts
 
For sure Not! LoL

Only 3 L7 have so far been delivered and all in Hong Kong.

Aussie getting one in the next batch as well as the USA for the SHOW in Vegas.

I myself would LOVE to hear one, given the feedback I have read.
aplhifi
515 posts
 
The truth, the utter truth, is there is no best, there is no better, all there is is what people like in their systems. Two people can listen to exactly the same system - one goes - WOW - the other BLAH.

Yup, that is the case. In my opinion, the so called "personal taste" in audio is just what people are used to, which, in most cases, has nothing to do with realistic tonality of live (un-amplified) performances. Though one person will like Steinway and the other Yamaha grand-pianos, these both have to be reproduced faithfully in an audio system, so there are no preferences - it is either real, or colored. Since all audio systems are colored (cost no object), I personally prefer coloration that is closest-to-real. :-)

Trying to minimize the BLAH and maximize the WOW factor, I have designed and built a complete reference audio system, from the power cables to the speakers, and I am very happy. You can check out the system (on Audiogon) under my signature, I have just updated it with the latest.

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev
jwm
918 posts
 
Hey Alex are you going to be at CES this year?
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