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Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi All.

Putting together a reference level system.
My Source is predominantly standard 16/44 played from a MacMini using iTunes and Amarra. Some of my music is purchased from iTunes and the rest is ripped from standard CD's.
For my tastes in music, my high def catalogues are still limited; so Redbook 16/44 will be my primary source for quite some time.

I'm not spending DCS or MSB money. But $15-20k retail is not out of the question.

Upsampling vs non-upsampling?
USB input vs SPDIF?

All opinions welcome.

And I know I need to hear them, but getting these ultra $$$ DAC's into your house for an audition ain't easy.

Looking for musical, emotional, engaging, accurate , with great dimension. Not looking for analytical and sterile.
mattnshilp
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Shaw - I have not heard the new Directstream, but I have heard the Vivaldi in two different rooms at RMAF. The Overdrive beats it IMO. The Analog DAC was compared in the latest Overdrive review. The Overdrive beat it according to the reviewer. I have heard the Wavelength, Berkeley, Ayre, Chord Qute, and Bryston. Overdrive beats all of these. My roommate used the Lampi7 in his room in Chicago Axpona. He says the Overdrive beats it too. I have not heard the top of line Resonessence or the Bricasti yet.

I have both tube and SS monoblocks. The difference with tubes is mainly bass and depth. A bit more smooth on vocals maybe. My SS is extremely good though.

Each Overdrive version that I use at shows is different than the one previously used. It undergoes upgrades periodically. This is one big advantage of my products. I continuously try to improve them and offer these upgrades to my customers whenever possible. Each show sound Is improvedmovermthe last. This show is no exception.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,601 posts
 
Shawbros3

Need the Dynamo power supply. Not sure what else was going on in that system etc... No way of knowing.
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Matt, what happened this weekend at Audio Connection? Why didn't you hear the Aesthetix? Will you be able to go back to listen as I'd love to hear how it sounds to you against all the other DAC's. Let us know. Thanks.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Steve says his roomate preferred the Overdrive DAC over the LampizatOr level 7, that's him. Who knows what type of sound he likes, we all simply have personal tastes and biases. Who knows what Matt likes in sound/music presentation? I certainly have my individual tastes as well. I think LampizatOr nails the realism, and innate beauty of music, just "natural" not hyped hifi. If the Overdrive matches or exceeds Matt's Lampi Big 6 I'll be surprised (and impressed). Should be very interesting.
Charles,
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,601 posts
 
These will all be heavyweight dac champs and I would think all appeal to different tastes, systems, system preferences, music preferences etc....

This thread will be fun to follow for sure. Goodness I would love to have all these killer dacs in my music room!
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