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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
rrsclyde
84 posts
 
@Lula: I do think the Signature upgrade is a major improvement with respect to redbook; however, IMHO the upgrade cost is not inexpensive. I probably would have a difficult time justifying the cost solely for redbook, but I have a pretty extensive collection of DSD that I really enjoy, so the DSD capability was my primary motivation. My decision was made much easier by being able to purchase a demo Romulus from a dealer going out of business at a great price.

I'm not a good candidate to critique the transport capability as I very rarely use it--99.9% of my use is solely as a DAC--I would have bought the Pandora and saved the extra cost but for the great deal on the demo Romulus.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Alex, what user-controllable options are available via remote or front panel on DSD-S, besides PCM2DSD 64 vs 128 conversion?

G.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Guido - The Overdrive can select between 3 digital filters and preemphasis. There is no upsampling. This allows one to feed a really low jitter digital signal and get the full benefits.

I have heard the effects of non-apodizing filters and other custom filters. I didn't care for any of them. The only good filter is a single-order analog filter IMO. The same trend is happning is speaker crossovers, low-order and minimized filters.

If you look at the impulse response of my Overdrive, the pre and post ringing is minimal. Pretty ideal. The plots are downloaded from the webpage.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Mccondon - the source is all about the jitter level. If the interfaces are poorly designed, then even the best source may be compromised. Comparing USB input to S/PDIF is apples-to-oranges too.

Besides jitter, common-mode noise can come into the equation, if you are using AES/EBU or USB as your transport cable.

These are systems, so everything matters. I don't call it synergy. Its more a matter of both the transmitting and receiving interface being designed well and the cable being designed well.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"His claim that with 192 option selected there is no oversampling is not exactly correct, at least to my knowledge."

I never made such a claim. Show me the post.

My Overdrive does no upsampling and the filters are selectable so that you can select the 192 filter when playing 44.1 tracks, resulting in minimal damage and approximating NOS DAC behavior.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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