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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
agear
1,362 posts
 
09-20-14: Geoffkait
Quick interrupt, but doesn't anyone use Herbies tube dampers on their 6SN7 tubes? I am pretty sure there would put be so much bickering about differences in tube types if everyone used Herbies dampers. I am using them on '52 Sylvania 6SN7GTs (Bad Boys) and '42 Tung Sol 5U4G coke bottle rectifier tube.

I did in a pre-amp application and found them beneficial.....
agear
1,362 posts
 
09-20-14: Mattnshilp

But you are re-affirming my point about chasing the rabbit with tube rolling. For some, it's the bees knees and their personal route to audio nirvana. I found that it ended up taking away from my enjoyment of the hobby because of my own obsessive need to try everything in every combo....

Some people like to roll tubes and others equipment...:)

09-20-14: Mattnshilp

I can tell you all that with stock tubes, the Big 6 was humbled six ways to Sunday by my ODSE. I can't comment on the Big 7.

A side by side comparison with a standardized transport would have been more elucidating. The offramp is obviously a confounding variable....

Speaking of confounding variables:

09-18-14: Ketcham
I have owned the following dacs and here are my rankings:

1. D5000
2. Empirical Audio Overdrive SE fully loaded with all upgrades.
3. Museatex Bidat
4. Very distant 4th is EMM DAC2x.

Unfortunately a Debussey dCS stack was sold locally before I could a to b it.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Given that all tubes are sensitive to vibration with some being very sensitive. Users of tube units should be very concerned with vibration control. Probably every tube should be on a separate board with substantial isolation from outside vibrations and dampening of vibrations from the tube itself.

I remember that Tophats glued using Elmers to miniatures helped them greatly. Herbies helped with all tubes that I used them on. But Stillpoints standoffs below the tubes are best.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,507 posts
 
Come on Agear please encourage me.....please. I am buying music and tubes....and a few caps. Stops here. Encourage me:)

Enjoying music more than ever.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Thankyou Matt for youe permission for the off topic discussion, great feed back on the ODSE you mentioned as well, that is very good that your impressions of the ODSE are still intact after the loaner unit left and the one you own has taken you back to where you want to be, digital is one of the most difficult challenges to achieve a particular sound to me, so many flavors, most are always missing something, I know this is for your system, and the ODSE may vary on different systems, you did your search right matt, congrats on your ODSE, cheers
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