DAC Recommendation around 2.5K

Wisnon,

I have heard the Lampizator 4 several times (without DSD option) and it is a great DAC, no doubt. I did not think it represented enough of an upgrade to justify switching from my current "musical" DAC. As I said, I find the differences between the better high end DACs to be subtle. That is not meant to be a slight...just an explanation of what I hear.

As to DSD, I fault no one for choosing or wanting it. *I* want it to take off but the fact is that very few titles I listen to are available in DSD and, based upon the very "iffy" hi-res material you can pay top dollar for on HDTracks, I remain skeptical that this format will change what I've already experienced with the hi- res bandwagon. Ninety-five percent of what l choose to listen to is 16/44 and only four or five hi -res recordings seriously beat the best Redbook I own. I find the vast majority of "audiophile only" recordings to be boring and/or creatively lacking. A friend of mine and I recently downloaded a half dozen rock recordings from HDtracks and compared them to the Redbook versions we owned. None of the "hi-res" versions were better. For example, the best one of the crop, Paul McCartney's Ram, is easily bested by Steve Hoffmann's gold Redbook disc remaster of the same sessions. Just because something has 24/96 or DSD label doesn't mean it's worth a purchase. So, when someone can offer truly better versions of even half of the music I already own, I'll get a ticket for the show.

Vhiner,

Fair enough on your opinion of what justifies the cost of upgrade. What Dac do you have? Also, which L4 did you hear? Gen 4 as of May 2013? As you know Lampis have subtle differences over time.

Regarding format, DSD IS different! It does dsound different and one advantage it does have is that since editing is limited, they would not have been messed with as much post recording as PCM. Now here I refer to native DSD recordings or analog to DSD transfers. PCM to DSD transfers by definition should not be as impressive and frankly better left as PCM. DSD has its own sound signature and I find more consistently of high quality that PCM hires offerings, given that most are SACD rips that we can make via a PS3.

One can build up a huge library that way, given that SACD prices are often cheaper than hires downloads. The new frontier is DSD128 rips of vinyl from a classy analog setup. I hear that this is "delicious". I am trying to source a couple tracks to confirm.

Winson,

We're getting pretty far off the OP's original topic, but here goes;

I don't remember which Gen it was but definitely not anything from 2013. Again, it was a fine piece of kit. I own the PSAudio PerfectWave MKII DAC and transport. I use top-of-the line Shunyata Zitron wire and PC's throughout.

I don't doubt DSD is different, but I think a wide and diverse selection of DSD is far in the future. I wish all music companies would authorize someone to transfer their VINYL titles PROPERLY to a distributable file for sale. I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen. Few of them are even recording in true hi-res PCM, much less DSD.

I am far from deaf and have a serious system. I know a good recording when it bites me on the ass. ;-) I have simply lost patience chasing formats that never pan out. I'm happy to wait until I can get everything from Brubeck to Vampire Weekend on "perfect" DSD. Then I'll lay out the green for a serious DSD DAC. By then, everything people bought this year may be looking a bit ragged. Oh, yeah, and maybe by then someone will have created a killer, true audiophile plug and play music network system that doesn't require a hours of futzing to maintain. Hope springs eternal.

Why not the PS Audio PWD MkII, especially if you had a good experience within the PS Audio family. You can easily find a gently used one within your budget. It will suit yiour needs and based on my experience with it, is a top notch, very versatikle performer.

Neal

LoL

Vhiner, you are a riot.
We are getting off topic a bit, but can continue viua PM at Audiocircle, in order not to hijack this thread. I use the same user name there.

I will end by saying that I have nearly 2TB of DSD material, so I am NOT starved for DSD content by any means. The fringies are ripping vinyl to DSD128. Unfortunately, I dont have a vinyl rig nor a collection of LPs. I get my content from SACDs primarily.