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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
 
AL - It is certainly possible to build such a server/DAC, but good SQ is expensive. Lots of isolation and separate power supplies required.

I'm not in the computer assembly business. I think my new Ethernet interface goes a long way to make the server a non-issue.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Steve, what isolator? What does it do? Is that something that we should all be looking at IRT our mac mini servers? Thanks so much for the help and thoughts in this thread.
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Thankyou audioengr.
mrpaul
68 posts
 
I've had the Antipodes DX for close to 3 months. I became interested in it last year when Steve (audioengr) won "best of show" using it with his DAC and commented on it positively. If there is no objection I'll post some of my thoughts about it on this thread over the next few days.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
On the contrary Mrpaul... Please do tell us your detailed impressions of the Antipodes DX. G.
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