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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
wisnon
700 posts
 
If your Dac cant handle DSD or in any case has its sweetspot at 24/88, then buy thta!
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"In an ideal (or future) audio world, a server will do this for you. Its simply an engineering lag"

The music server may seem like a panacea, but it isn't. The same jitter problems exist inside. Its like comparing a CD transport and a DAC and concluding that if they are combined, it will solve everything. You know how that turned-out.....

The real solution is using wired Ethernet instead of USB. This is a solution that makes the computer and its power unimportant. Cabling is unimportant. Even the playback software should in theory be unimportant, but I feel that it will be. This is why I am working on this solution now.

All of my USB interfaces will be upgradable to wired Ethernet LAN interfaces.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
erikminer
433 posts
 
Wired ethernet like Devialet uses for there AIR streaming.
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
I'm Sorry. Can you explain the benefit of Ethernet over USB?
I'm having a hard time processing what the advantages are.

Doesn't this all come down to Jitter and clocking? Wouldn't the ideal server be connected to a DAC that shares a single external high end clock?

Steve, does your ODSX have inputs for an external clock?
paul79
174 posts
 
Steve, I am finding that the Ethernet cables are important, the supplies for the router and NAS are important, as well as the hard drive in my setup. FE, SSD are more clear sounding than standard HD's in the NAS.
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