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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
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Bill_k, as I said I have compared DOP with native DSD, and the native is better. Into the Sabre chip, the DSD goes through an entirely different part of the chip. I did listen to DOP for a long time and enjoyed it but moving the filters out well beyond anything I can hear or sense, it very beneficial. I have demonstrated what 44.1/16 versus double native DSD sounds like to others. It sounds like a different recording with much better microphones and mix.

All of this aside, I still think the BMC PureDac is exceptional. I know another manufacturer who could afford the very best who says he has it in the PureDac.
aplhifi
515 posts
 
Aplhifi, perhaps but I'm now using a music server with double DSD output from the dac. The BMC, at least cannot play this.

Tbg, the DSD-S can surely play double DSD (DSD128) and the DSD-M can play quadruple DSD (DSD256) at 13.5MHz.

However, as we discussed today with a respected reviewer, it is not the format (PCM or DSD) and it is not the rate that matters that much. Simply, it is all about implementation. :-)

Best,
Alex Peychev
APL Hi-Fi
agear
1,362 posts
 
Tbg, your system page is screwed up

Spot welding for circuit boards. Please invent it
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Matt, At this point, I wonder If you will ever get a signature Pandora or Romulas player here in this shoot out, I would call the Asthetixs company themselfs and by pass the store, I have had to do that before, they may be tring to fill a big order for the store, that will be a slow process, I believe if you explained to the designer of the asthetixs about your thread here, you likly would get one promply, It would be like dealing with Steve Nugent, cheers.
aplhifi-usa
38 posts
 
Bill_k, as I said I have compared DOP with native DSD, and the native is better.

Tbg, please understand that DoP and DSD are both native/pure DSD.

Sabre chip, the DSD goes through an entirely different part of the chip. I did listen to DOP for a long time and enjoyed it but moving the filters out well beyond anything I can hear or sense, it very beneficial

This is true for most DACs that can process PCM and DSD.
Again, DoP is DSD (after a simple decoding that does not affect the sound quality in any way) so you cannot apply the usual digital filters to DoP, just like you can do it with PCM. Also, please do not confuse DoP with DSD converted to PCM, it has nothing to do with it. DoP is DSD "encapsulated" in PCM frames, that's all.

Hope this helps you understand better what DoP is - DSD over PCM=Pure DSD.

Best wishes,
Alex Peychev
APL Hi-Fi
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