Audiophile grade analog to digital converter

dCS, Apogee and Prism all have sterling reputations as studio converters. But Benchmark, Mytek, RME, Grace, Lynx, Drawmer and others also make very high quality products. Much of what would make an A/D best for someone depends upon what features you seek. Since so many of the converters rely upon the same chipsets you might discover that A/D don't sound that different from one another. What are you looking to do?

24 bit instead of 16 bit will give you more digital headroom to play with. AKM make excellent chipsets used in many devices. Clocking is critical for any converter but this has been a well known concern for over 10 years....so most modern well built devices with good power supplies should perform well.

Personally. I'd go for device features first (inputs/ouputs/formats etc.) rather than buy a device based only on the ADC.

There is no best. That's like asking what is the best flavored ice cream?

You'll get many different opinions, my favorite is the dcS La Scala, at $15K it's a bit pricey though. I wouldn't say it is the best, simply the one that suits my tastes best. I can't say that I've heard them all either though.

Everything dCS seams to be DSD, which won't work. I'm looking at these things and considering their use for vinyl transfer.

But I think I have to agree with Shadorne, and the CEDAR ADA is the best unit to use.

The Lynx is a popular sound card. There is also the EMU-0404 style input box.

For LPs, I designed "The Ripper". Matches an audiophile phono section to a 16-bit ADC. Everything you need (except for a PC and turntable) to rip your own CDs.

jh