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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
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....
mtruong34
34 posts
 
And why does break-in ALWAYS makes a component sound better and NEVER worse? What's the science behind that?
agear
1,362 posts
 
I fully admit that I am excruciatingly patient when evaluating a component

I am too, and while the breakin thing sounds like witchcraft, its real in my experience as well. A lot of ADD audiophiles miss out on good gear due to the lack of patience...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
In the course of breaking something in, over the subsequent several weeks or whatever I might change or add any number of things in the system, clean contacts, that sort of thing. There's no way I can track how the thing I'm breaking in is coming along. There's no way I'm going to listen for a bunch of capacitors to break in. The system sound changes constantly. Am I the only one who can't tell when something's finally broken in?
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,526 posts
 
Break in real and patience is a must. 1200 hours is no longer break in, but other things factor in the day to day nuances of our systems.
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