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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
erikminer
433 posts
 
I have the Devialet 200.. And I'm very happy with it..
agear
1,362 posts
 
Ricevs, the amp section on the French piece appears to be SOTA, but the digital implementation falls short in many people's eyes. Spend on time on the Devaliet forums, and they are screwing around with Totaldac servers and whatnot trying to get better SQ. Who knows. I would love to try one. Speaker selection seems to be very important....
mattnshilp OP
917 posts
 
I heard Devaliet with Totem Elemental Metal speakers at the NY show and it was a winning combo.
wisnon
700 posts
 
The amps are not SOTA, as they essentially use the Threshold STASIS tech, which was an adaptation of current dumping. Class a voltage combined with class D current. The older techs used class B current.

The complaint about Devialet is that they dont work that well with very hard to drive speakers. Their SAM tech does make them a flawless matchup to normal speajkers that have been SAM optimized though.

This is great turnkey stuff, but you have to buy into the Devialet eco-system, which currenly means no DSD and even if it comes later could likely NOT be pure DSD.

Get Devialet and one can just forget about Nervosa.
erikminer
433 posts
 
@Agear,
It's not the sound quality of the digital section that has folks (also me) trying different renderers and servers, it's Devialet's current built in streamer AIR. AIR sounds outstanding and works pretty good with the occasional hiccup, but it needs to have a computer running on the network.. no upnp built in..

But wait there's more :-) Devialet just announced their Dialog device and Spark control point, which looks as if it'll add upnp and streaming capabilities without the need for a computer running on the network..It's supposed to sell for $400.00 and if it does what it's supposed to do (I expect it will) Bam! Home Run Baby :-)

And DSD will most likely become available around the Munich show this year..

All in all it's an awesome turnkey product that punches way above it's weight and really helps one to get off the audio merry go round and just sit back and enjoy the music..
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