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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Jafox,
Yes, I don't own the Aeris DAC so have no first hand experience with its burn in process. Logically I really can't understand what on earth requires such excessive hours of use to reach its sonic peak. It would seem (I could just be wrong) 200 hours for synthetic material capacitors or large transformers should be sufficient. Guido documents 800 hours, he has one and I don't. From say 400 hours to 800 hours what is audibly changing? Why choose parts that demand extreme hours in order to finally sound good?
Charles,
agear
1,362 posts
 
Mitch2, an acquaintance (who is in the "industry" and has had a ton of dacs through his system) recently acquired a $200 dac out of China called the WEILIANG DAC5 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DAC-decoder-AK4399-WM8805-Coaxial-optical-input-Assembled-board-DAC9-by-weiliang-/1409397061030) and preferred it to the Metrum. I believe it uses an AKM chip.

Nothing sacred in digital!
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Hi Matt,

I'd suggest using the IsoTek burn-in CD. You can buy it and rip it to your Mac to use for faster break-in of any audio component in the chain.

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev
APL Hi-Fi
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Matt, I sure hope to read that the Aesthetix makes it to the party here, My interest is because I am considering getting A Romulas signature in the near future, Really, If you get an Aesthetix digital product in these comparisions, Make sure you get the signature model, from what I understand, this up-grade is substantial to the performance of the Aesthetix product line up, cheers.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
I have read where owners of Esoteric K-01 players have to do 300 to 400 hours of burn-in time for each setting, a total of over 1000 hours before the player is completly done, It is strange to me too, after reading that, my interest of Esoteric was gone, I do not care how good it sounds, to many others out there that would sound good enough that you will not have to go through that kind of hard ship for less hours of burn-in!
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