Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

I have been auditioning speakers in the city and had the opportunity to hear some ultra $$$ DAC's as well. I will be hearing a few more in the next few weeks also.

It's SO hard to isolate the performance of an individual component when listening to completely different systems in completely different rooms. But in the end I can give a nod to all of the upstream components if the system engages me and does what it is supposed to.

All were the top level product of their brand: Meridian, Emm Labs, DCS, MSB. I could see any of them in my system but Meridian and DCS both require multi component systems to get the most out of them, while MSB and Meitner are standalone DACs. I will be hearing the CH Design DAC/streamer next Monday along with equally esoteric and expensive speakers.

What I am coming away with is that for most of us, spending $25-75k on digital is not just unrealistic, but unwise. If you spend that money on speakers, amps, preamps or an analog table/rig can last forever and will never truly be outdated. While even the most sophisticated digital nay sound great forever, it will likely be replaced by something better and be outdated within 5 years.

And the Dac of the future will unquestionably directly link to and control an Ethernet NAS drive.

We are at a technological crossroads for DAC's. I think things will change dramatically in the next few years.

And did anyone else just hear that Jay Z's investment company just bought TIDAL streaming????

Oops. Type.
Spending $25-$75k is not realistic.
Lol

Not so sure that Ethernet connection will last. Too many pitfalls connecting to a NAS(ty) for ultimate performance.

Drive capacity goes up as prices fall.

Who wouldnt like their entire library in the top pocket for absolute total mobility?

My 2cents

What I mean is that the DAC is going to BE the front end. USB memory stick or Ethernet NAS or whatever. Digital front end is transitioning.

The DAC will likely also access Internet streaming sources like Tidal and other on line streaming sources. I think the closer the source gets to the dac, the better. And once a usb solid state drive can hold an entire collection (red book or even hi-rez) things will really get interesting. And we are practically there.

Ok, two questions then. First what drive unit would you purchase for a 2009 mac mini. Then where would you store it? Do you set up a NAS with firewire or just a double bay hard drive in RAID 1?
Also please share models that you use and love. I can't wait to Steve's DAC up and running in my system, I could use the built in super drive but have been told that a remote usb drive is best as you can buy a much better quality one. Plexor was the name Steve game me, but when I went to their site, they seem to only be for window's systems.

Matt we had this talk last week about servers/DACS and where they are headed. I totally agree with you.