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
09-27-14: Mattnshilp
Did anyone else go to the NY/Brooklyn show and come back disapointed?

Lampy was there, but had some speaker issues early on, which closed him room for most of the time I was there. It was opened at the end and I listened, but nothing grabbed me or blew me away…

Totem/Diavalet room sounded great. As did the new Kef Blade II with Parasound. Legacy Audio had speakers making good performances in a few rooms. Not much really reached out and grabbed me, and nothing came close to the sound I get from my own room at home. I guess that's a good thing…

Shows are always frustrating and often misleading. I know stuff that sounds great sound bad at a show. I had one friend who liked the Totem room and another who was underwhelmed. The Lampi crew told me the sound was rhubarb on Friday and better today due to time alignment issues with the speakers. The show speakers got damaged in transit and another surrogate had to be used which was not show ready. Oh well. They still managed to sell some dacs. C'est la vie.

Matt, so your rolling amps now too? Lordy....
Not rolling. Eventually upgrading. But my Veritas amps are SO good that it's going to take a HUGE investment to make upgrading worthwhile. Everything in between Veritas and stupid expensive isn't worth spending money to upgrade to because the improvement is not worth the expense. So it's stupid expensive amps I'm looking at.

But the listening room needs to happen first.

I'll report a bit about the amp while I'm reporting about the DSD-S.
Thankyou Audioengr for your reply, I believe in direct coupled componets, I have one now that I am happy with, I look forward to your new componet offerings that you are working on, currious, what is the usual shelf life of a componet you offer?, you know, how long do you sale a model before you come out with newer better?, cheers.
Audiolaby, The Job 225 power amp and the upcoming monoblocs are DC coupled. I am hoping to audition the monoblocs at the factory in a few weeks if their invitatation still holds.
I was at the show yesterday and the Lampi guys really nailed it. One of the best sounds. So did the Naim/Focal guys (the smaller Focals blew away the larger focals with VAC gear on the 2nd floor.