Worlds best DAC

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

Hey Alex are you going to be at CES this year?

Hey Alex are you going to be at CES this year?

Hi Jwm,

Unfortunately, I will not be attending the CES. Had a few expos in Europe recently, and planning on more exhibitions next year.

Maybe will be at the CES early 2015, will see.

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev

Since all audio systems are colored (cost no object), I personally prefer coloration that is closest-to-real. :-)

Heard that one before. It looks like the way to go on the surface. Trouble is exactly what coloration is closer to real is a rather slippery beast. For example its well known by speaker designers that a transient perfect .5 alignment is the most accurate. Yet it sounds overly taught and anemic and a slightly less accurate .6 or .65 alignment sounds better subjectively. It just seems to be the way we are.

Then we have exactly what parameter makes the biggest subjective difference. One of the DAC's at the shootout will be a Killer. It has an obviously colored valve output stage - not dripping in honey etc etc but there is obviously a trace of coloration that makes it sound lovely. But it goes to enormous lengths that really lower jitter. What's better subjectively - lower jitter or a less colored output stage. Who knows.

Thanks
Bill

Bill, dont forget the other side of the equation. Jitter is NOT the be all and end all of good digital. There is also a matter of waveform distortion of the digital and resulting analog signal, which is more in the domain of power supply construction and RFI/EMI pollution. that carries equal weight in my mind. Of course the best Dacs deal with that well.