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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
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Audiolabyrinth - the problem with trying to evaluate D/A chips by listening to different DAC implementations is the following:

Some D/A chips, like Op-Amps, require a bit more babying in the power delivery in order to deliver the goods. If the same lame treatment for power delivery is done for all D/A chips, then the ones with better on-die power delivery and better packaging/power-pin assignments will always win. On the other hand, if one optimizes the power delivery, the results may be very different. The better D/A chip may have poor on-die power structure, but actualy sound more natural. So you see, the answer is not black-and-white.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Steven Alex, on your respective DACs, what signal processing parameters can be controlled by user selectable settings on front panel / remote? E.g...

* Upsampling rates,
* Filter types and subtypes,
* filters on/off,
:* Other?

Saluti, Guido
lula
213 posts
 
This is directed to Randy....did you find the Signature upgrade on your Romulus to be worthwhile for playing Redbook? Also, do you think the transport in the unit is up to the quality of the DAC? Would it make sense to use a dedicated transport, i.e. Levinson 31.5, with the Pandora Signature DAC rather than go for the Romulus Sig player? I know the transport only adds 1K to the price so it seems like a worthwhile "risk".
kana813
956 posts
 
Having recently compared the Aesthetix Pandora Signature, PSA DS and Berkeley Alpha Series II, I agree with Randy that the Aesthetix DAC is sublime and a hand picked set of of Gold Lion tubes adds to the enjoyment.
rja's avatar
rja
2,372 posts
 
I was told the Romulus transport is a TEAC but not one of the best as installed in the top Esoterics.
IMO: It would be tough to beat the interface between transport and DAC in the Romulus with a separate transport and cable. I'll give it a try with my Wadia 270SE.
BTW: I had Aethetix replace the RCA digital-in with a bnc which they gladly did.
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