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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
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.
agear
1,362 posts
 
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.

In other words, you are working on an Ethernet streamer or "renderer" that nixes the puter and takes its clocking out of the equation. Devialet and dBsystems (also out of France and which I used to own) have done that.

In your own words:

Have there been any disruptive advances in the Computer Audio DAC interface and how do you see this evolving in the future?
Certainly....

The next thing to look for is converters and DACs with WiFi or Ethernet interfaces that use ubiquitous software and source devices to deliver high-end sound. These will not eliminate the need to still do excellent designs and implementations and use low-jitter clocks, but it will eliminate the variability in sound quality due to computer hardware, software and cables. More folks will get better quality music playback for less money.

http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-steve-nugent-empirical-audio-page-4
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