Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

My guess your motivation starting "Is computer audio a bust" after Grannyring replaced his ODSE/Lamp for Romulus.

That would be incorrect Joey. I have had several friends do this recently (one with a vintage Marantz CDP) and I have read such verbiage online over the last few years. My curiosity was piqued. Its more of an intellectual exercise. As expected, people are all over the map.

You are not comparing apples to apples until Aesthetix makes a Romulus DAC.

Incorrect again. They do, Its called the Pandora. Its just a Romulus minus the CD tray. Either way, it would or could be an apples to apples comparison with the Romulus digital input. Adding the element of a plastic spinner would be intriguing as so many people aggressively pan them as an inferior and dated technology. Would the Offramp technology stand up to a lowly plastic spinner?

JWM was NOT using ODSE and he replaced Big 6 with Romulus. So it appears owners are replacing Lamps with Romulus

No, what appears to be happening is audiophiles are doing what audiophiles do best....:/ We huff and puff about our dac du jour and then its gone months later. Other than cables, I have never seen people hydroplane through so much equipment. Never mind the fact that the rest of the system is questionable. Audio tunnel vision says something must go! I have committed that sin repeatedly.

In the immortal words of Syntax:

06-04-14: Syntax
The best DAC? Always the next one.
Syntax (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

Agear, I wish you guys had listened to the BMC PureDac. At $1790 retail it is the best production dac I've heard. I must use my prototype dac with my present music server as it uses the new JRivers MC 19 and outputs double DSD. It allows me to compare cds in double DSD through the Sabre chip to them in PCM at 44.1/16. It is amazing how poor a choice PCM is. I have tried PCM up to 192/24 versus double DSD and the latter wins hands down.

Since Sabre's best chip includes a separate portion that can do native DSD, if the designer knows how to do so, I think this is the wave of the future.

Ok let's get my thoughts straight. I left computer audio because all the computer stuff from ripping to downloads to backup and other stuff was stressing me. I hate working on computers and I am forced to deal with one all week on my job. I MUCH prefer touching my CDs and simply putting one after another in the CD drawer. So simple and easy and relaxing to me.

I did not think this would be the case as at first I liked the perceived ease of computer audio. But over time it became a stressor for me. Not good. I learned and took a chance as I like to try different things. I am open minded.

That is the only reason I left computer based audio. That is it. I have been clear about this on many of my posts. Computer based audio sounds every bit as good and better often times. Just a pain in the rear for me and to me.

Now comes the Romulus dac/CD player. I love it. I prefer it in many ways from ease of use to a slightly different sonic signature. It is not as up front sounding as the Lampi/computer combo. It is less detailed however and some may certainly prefer my old computer based front end as it was killer. The Romulus does not stomp all over the sound of my old computer based rig. No way.

It is a preference thing. I like the natural ease of the Romulus. Some may find it too soft or relaxed. I don't. The EA Offramp with the Lampi and Apple Mini was superb and world class. It dug deeper into the music in some ways for sure.

I love trying new gear and playing. Call it a sickness if you want. I think it is an interest and curiosity:-)

Grannyring, glad you are happy with your system.

I love trying new gear and playing. Call it a sickness if you want. I think it is an interest and curiosity:-)

That's how one learn and grow by being curious and experimenting.

TBG - Ive had the BMC DAC in my rooms at trade shows, as well as the Overdrive SE. My partners in the room that sell BMC will tell you which DAC is better, a LOT better. The price difference is there for a reason. There is a lot more technology in the Overdrive. Contact Vapor Audio (vaporsound.com) They make some of the best speakers on the planet, particularly for the money BTW.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio