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
Guys the Music Vault servers are also outstanding. He is willing to do custom builds in them for various inputs and outputs. He even offers an A/D converter to get a digital rip of your analog. I've heard it and it should be part of this list. PJ at Antipodes is really trying to get his units into stores.
My list is by no means complete. I'm just learning as I go. Any other server suggestions are welcome. Please throw a descriptive blurb in as I did to say what it does, what it is and what it isn't.

Thanks all!
I myself like the idea of a streamer that is NOT computer audio into a dac, though they are similiar, but not the same!,a streamer has storage like computer audio, however, a streamer is like internet radio too?
Streamers used with USB or S/PDIF outs should be Linux-based, not Windows IME. The difference in SQ between FLAC and wav goes away with Linux and a good CODEC.

The big advantage of USB out is that you don't rely on the clock in the server.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio