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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
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Bill (Grannyring), regarding your comments about humidity being a significant variable, here is some remarkable confirmation, from this current thread:
06-17-14: Georgelofi
... this [humidity] is greatly overlooked. Take any hybrid ESL speaker for instance, they are tuned for a certain sound by the factory. The esl panel on a day when the humidity is 70%-100% can loose as much as -3db efficiency, making the balance sound bass heavy as the dynamic bass driver has not lost this -3db.

I have measured it on my new panels, dry day 5kv bias charge and on a humid day 3kv-4kv bias charge, I tend not to do any evaluations or serious listening on days when the humidity is above 70%. Or if I have to, I can with some trouble turn down the gain of the bass electronics by the appropriate amount so all is balanced again.
Best regards,
-- Al
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Thank you Steve. Yes, I have amps with ceramic boards, Jensen caps, and lots more esoteric goodies inside... Amazing sound from the get go... And then they kept improving.... By 1500 hours, my amps were awesome. The delightful Merrill Veritas took a little less: By 1K hours they were stable. This has been my consistent experience for the last 30 years.

Of course, Your OD DAC might very well have a very different break-in curve... Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity of verifying its break-in pattern and its sound in my system. G.
jwm
918 posts
 
Lets all put 2000 hours or more and fully break in our components. How about 2 to 5 years and then just maybe they will be broken in. This is crazy you get use to the sound at that point, break in still I doubt it.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Go Matt!, I enjoyed you last few post concerning the Aeris and ODSE, awsome, look forward to your impressions, mmm, the ODSE could win win this out?, May the winner take in Huge sales deservingly so!
agear
1,362 posts
 
AGear. I'm not sure why you say that.

Because of language like this:

At this moment in time, I am STILL enjoying the absolutely beguiling ODSE. It does not have the complexity of the Aeris, nor the masterful recreation of tone and texture that the Aeris is starting to display...

Vast black spaces that accurately frame the complexity of a sonic landscape along with accurate tone, and texture. Hmmm. Besides, beguiling is a good word for a dalliance, but not someone you marry. :/

For purely entertainment purposes, I would love to hear a formal comparison of the ODSE, Romulus Signature, and Lampizator L7 but it ain't going to happen. Too bad. I just ordered my single box L7....
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