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
If the $1800 BMC PureDAC sounds so good, how much better is their top model, the $4,900 BMC DAC1? Anyone heard it?
Mitch2, I had the Dac1 and had the updated USB modification. I think the PureDac is far better but, of course, needs a preamp for other inputs.
The Weiss 202 DAC supports Thunderbolt. However, Thunderbolt in its various incarnations, is One connection technology that I do not recall being discussed on this thread.

Is the Weiss 202 Thunderbolt implementation merely a blip in an otherwise thunderboltless evolution of DAC designs, or is this a beginning of a trend, and we might see more such implementations in the future?

Are there theoretical or practical advantages of Thunderbolt over USB and SPDIF? ... E.g. Higher jitter immunity, signal isolation, Other?

Steve... Alex... Al... What say you?

Saluti, G.

@everyone. My resonessance invicta mirus is starting to open up. It's sounding really good. I'm using the manley shrimp with a kst 150. Great soundstage. Great dynamics and decay with absolutely no hardness. I've had it for about a month now. I've been playing
it and it's sounding better by the day.