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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
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Ozzy, thanks for your input!

Matt is correct that several negative posts can hurt such manufacturers like Steve and me.

After what happen back in the days, I worked very hard to improve customer satisfaction, and I think I did it. :-)

As for PS Audio, such company cannot be compared to what Steve does, for example. We are talking about pure all-hand-made boutique that is made with the best possible components, free of any budgets. At least this is how I feel about this subject.

As for servicing, the Electronic Express service center in Chicago is fully authorized to service all of my products, both warranty and out-of-warranty, and they have done a great gob over the past few years. So I think there are no worries about that.

Best wishes,
Alex
p59teitel
314 posts
 
I thought the OP started this thread to describe his comparison of products? Complaints about one-man shows etc. belong elsewhere.
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
yes they do belong elsewhere, however you can't have it both ways. It's a forum on the internet and folks will post their feelings on things. If folks buy based on what they read.....sorry, that's just MY pet peeve I guess. I didn't love reading the debate either, but why can someone get hammered for posting what he did and then someone else can bash PS Audio by saying they got bashed, when in fact, that's not at all what Matt posted. They are all trying to make an honest living. Matt and others need to be free to post their thoughts, good or bad. Dealers who chose, should be able to defend themselves if they feel they want to, but on this thread or not, it's going to be out in the public and we should make our decisions based on what is best for us.

This thread has been and is awesome. I'm not playing in this league, but I've gotten to hear a few of these DAC;s in my travels. I've heard many others in these price ranges also. They all seem to have plusses and minus's to my ear. They all seem very system dependent. As much as any other product. One thing that has been brought up by all is a basic cable. Question for said designers, why don't you just get the best cable for your product and ship with it? I know a few speaker manufacturers who use a specific companies cable internally or in their crossovers (external). For a power cord, I would think that you could just build that into it. One reason I love Ayre products is that they build some sort of circuit to clean the AC. I have heard a few of their components with various cords and they just dont' make a huge difference to me nor have they to the people I've listened with.

Does the power cord make a big difference with the DAC's you like Matt or was it just the PS fans who said theirs needs a better power cord? Thanks.
joecasey
484 posts
 
One thing that has been brought up by all is a basic cable. Question for said designers, why don't you just get the best cable for your product and ship with it?
What's best? What's best for some but not others. Same reason why MOST companies don't use rare NOS tube for stock. They know end users will roll what's BEST to their ears.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I cannot speak for other DACs, but due to extensive use of Hynes regulator technology, I found that putting an expensive power cord on the Overdrive SE only helped a tiny bit. I still use one, just because I have it. I really don't believe its necessary though.

Maybe Matt tried more than one cable on it?

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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