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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
 
JoeCasey - I have owned an '85 911 M491 wide body, '95 993 C2 Cabriolet and '97 993 Twin Turbo. I'm actually selling my yellow 993 cabriolet right now. I agree, the driving experience is more raw, more mechanically connected to the road; no doubt. Manual is a no brainer on the 964 and 993; it's intuitive and literally lets you become one with the car.

PDK vs manual is, coincidentally, very much akin to CD vs LP.

Best, if possible, to have both as each has their benefits and rewards.
jwm
918 posts
 
I also have the new boxter S with PDK and paddle shifters. All the high end cars are going to paddle shifters including the Ferrari's. Once you get use to them the shifting is way faster than using your hand and foot in the old traditional way. I love the car as it is fast and also very smooth ride not like a Corvette where you feel every little bump in the road.
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
UPDATE:

Just so that the audio only guys here don't go crazy listening to car banter during the lull....

I spent about 2 hours listening yesterday to my new, fully burned in, ODSE.
Just as good as my loaner! Don't know why, but I was a little worried. Totally unjustified, it sounds amazing! Every time I listen to that ODSE I fall in love with my music all over again!

The current setting of the K-01 will be done on the 23rd. There is one other setting I want to burn in, and I'll do that using the USB input so that gets cooked at the same time. Gonna be a bit before I can compare ODSE DAC to K-01 DAC. I burned my test tracks onto CD, so I will also compare K-01's CD player to my ODSE as well... Sorry, with all the burn in, it's gonna be a bit.

I'm working on another project that I will report on if I can get my ducks in a row. Should be very cool.
joecasey
484 posts
 
PDK vs manual is, coincidentally, very much akin to CD vs LP.
Mattnshilp, exactly my thought except I will concede PDK is superior to manual if performance is major criteria. Tiptronic was a joke but PDK is the real thing ... no human can process faster than a computer.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Al - Okay, I understand now what you are saying. These are specific effects, like ground-bounce, crosstalk, ground-return sharing, EMI etc..

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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