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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
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Erikminer, Hi, Can you post a link here to the reviews you are talking about?
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
986 posts
 
Erikminer,
Thanks for the heads up. The review at CA was extremely positive - sounds super delicious! Berkeley saw it fit to not include any usb input altogether. Looks like they subscribe to the philosophy that coaxial spdif is superior to any usb implementation out there.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
The USB compared to SPDIF is interesting and has been debated for quite sometime. There are very experienced and talented designers who insist that USB is inferior sonically. USB supporters counter with it all revolves around implementation. It seems Berkley has joined the former camp.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Agear,
your wife sounds a lot like mine. Very intelligent, great sense of humor and never a dull moment. Grannyring, the same could be said of your wife as well. We're lucky guys.
Charles,
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
"Berkeley saw it fit to not include any usb input altogether. "

I'm thinking their attitude is the typical "separates" thought process.

Many believe that USB to spdif conversion should be looked at similar to a phono stage; separate units to achieve ideal performance. I hit this opinion early on with my Rowland Aeris and even more with the Big 6 eval.

Since Berkely has a well reputed and reviewed USB to spdif converter in their product list, it makes sense to me that their reference DAC would not include internal USB to spdif conversion.

As music servers become more robust and user friendly I believe computers may become less prominent for an audio source and USB may go away.

I think that more reference DAC manufacturers may avoid a USB input over time if music servers become the reference level, fluid user interface source that they should be.

Interesting times.
More to discover