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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
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
Steve - the advantages of your volume control make perfect sense, but your knob is still more of an attenuator then a formal volume control. It doesn't go down to silent, or really anywhere close to silent. It can adjust the music within my listening range from "on the quiet side of where I would listen" to "on the loud side of where I would listen"

For a computer I can see that being ok (although I was always under the impression that you needed to 100% the volume on the computer USB out to get the best sound), but not for a transport with no way to adjust volume.

Am I missing something?
radiohead99
79 posts
 
Great thread and some great dacs. But I can't help wondering that the using mac mini is the bottleneck and not doing remotely any justice to these top of the line dacs.
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
08-10-14: Audiolabyrinth
Congrats are in full order Melbguy1 on your Vitus singnature series SCD-025 you will be getting, I would like for you to do a review of the player on the Tara Labs Thread when you get your final impressions of the player after burn-in, cheers Melbguy1.
Thanks for your generous comments AL. Yes once the Vitus reaches 250hrs I will probably post a review, though in a separate review thread. Best to keep your Tara Labs thread a discussion about their products. The SCD-025 will club my old Ayon CD-5s like a baby seal!
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
I'm sure there will always be new DAC's and more expensive kits to consider. Vitus, Aesthetix, Allnic, Lampy Big7(and then Big8,9......)

This coming Wednesday I will give the DSD-S another listen and listen to my ODSE, cooking for almost a week by then. I'll let you know.

I can say, quite definitively, that I am done trying to listen to a DAC without my preamp. Nothing gives the level of reproduction that I get when the electroncs are fed through my Criterion. I'd love to avoid needing it, but it's not going to happen short term.

The Vitus looks amazing and I'm sure it sounds it as well. Congrats. Feel free to post some thoughts on its sound here as well.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Matt,
Given all the discussion concerning these very latest volume controls and their technical advantages, it's interesting that you still prefer an active preamplifier. I'm not at all surprised by your choice. Ears are wonderful if you trust them.
Charles,
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