Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

It's amusing to read about SS amps that people claim are "tubelike" in a thread about DACs.

Why not just buy a tube amp and stop hoping to find a SS amp that comes close?

Steve Nugent's thoughts got people all excited, but maybe you guys missed the part about him actually USING a TUBE amp...not these other SS amps.  (Plus, he was previously using a John Curl designed SS amp that he further modified to extract performance, yet it STILL wasn't enough and now he uses tubes.)

To each his own, but, personally, I don't see why anyone would spend that kind of money on a class D amp or small company SS amp, when you could get an ARC Reference amp that will drive almost any speaker for the same price.

Odds are good that you will then laugh at all the SS amps futilely trying to duplicate that sound...plus have a ready resale market...lifetime service...and unparalleled pedigree.

Many SS amps sound really nice and even have tech specs that sound better on paper.  I use several myself, but, for ultimate sound quality, most people eventually return to tubes and not vice-versa for a reason.  

Matt, what class D amps are you talking about?

You said they are better than A/B amps, but what about tubes?

i've been to countless shows (and I'll be at CES next week), so I'd like to check out any class D i may have missed.

I'm all for buying a class D amp if I can find one better than ARC Reference level tubes, but I haven't found any of these digital amps certain people claim "sound like tubes" yet.  Actually, none even close to that sound quality to my ears.  To me, they seem night and day different.

The closest thing class D I would buy at a certain budget range is the Lyngdorf which keeps everything digital until output and can provide room correction that provides a distinct advantage for many users.

The new Technics with CAT6 input and a LPS sounded promising too, but only the budget model had price commensurate with performance.

Otherwise, I can't recall any from recent shows.  If any digital amp should sound good, it would be Mola Mola given the pedigree of the designer. I can't say I was impressed with even their stuff, especially the price (to be fair though, it was limited exposure).

i always keep an open mind...errr...ear

Just got back from CES and wanted to post a brief follow-up to the "digital amp" discussion recently.

Again, I didn't hear any digital amps in the class of ARC Reference tube gear, but I was impressed with the Kii Audio speakers that are active and have digital amplification.  In fact, they were hooked up to a Kronus turntable and had to go through an ADC conversion and still sounded good.

There's no doubt that many people can be perfectly happy with that sound.  However, the Kronus TT setup is so good that it's tough to say if that wasn't carrying the SQ more than anything else.

Genesis had a more than decent sounding digital amp to go with their speakers.  Not sure why they don't get more 'pub' from the digital amp fans.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day, I wasn't lusting over anything and was more than happy to get back home to ARC tubes.  It's still a night and day proposition to me right now, but I'll keep looking/listening.

The one thing relevant to this thread's "best DAC" theme could be the new LH Labs Vi DAC.  I didn't hear it, but it won an award (although those awards are largely meaningless).  It did look promising. The option to choose either a SS or tube output stage seemed interesting, but that's assuming they do it right.  (Shanling did that at one time with their SACD player, but both options sounded awful.)

As for servers, I can't see how it's possible for someone to like a MacMini over the Antipodes which is clearly the best I've heard, but I guess anything is possible.  I think it just shows people have different tastes and it's best not to take advice from forums unless you know that person shares your same preferences.  Otherwise, you could be destined for disappointment.

Ctsooner, you can actually tell a lot about which equipment is "better" for your tastes by going to the shows.  Any seasoned audiophile will be able to pick out traits that they like/dislike.  For example, I heard sibilance at CES from the Dynaudio wireless/active/digitally amped $11k speakers that I couldn't live with, and I don't need them to send a pair to my house.  I'm 100% positive that same sibilance would be there in my home.  

Obviously, not everything you hear will translate 100% to your home, but most things will unless you have gross differences in room interactions or speaker/amp mismatches.

Unless you do scientifically compliant DBT, almost all evaluations are going to have an anecdotal and subjective aspect anyway...whether it's in your home or a show.  The best part about the show is that they are all using roughly the same room and power source...plus you get to talk to the designer and understand more about their goals as well as any particular nuances about the show sound (i.e. they will often tell you about certain bass room modes that they couldn't tame with show supplies).

Ironically, my friend went to RMAF and bought an entire room of equipment because he liked the sound.  It didn't suddenly sound different in his home.  

If we're talking about a server, I'm not sure how it would perform any different at a show versus at home.  Nevertheless, you're right.  If you can A/B demo something in your home, that's ideal.  Thus, if you didn't hear anything better from the Antipodes in your system, then that's great.  You're saving yourself a nice amount of $$$.  Enjoy...

I'm confused Mattnshilp.  

You just paid full retail for a Plasmatron and it supposedly delivers "an incredible sense of air and presence as well as opening up the soundstage"...yet you're selling it to buy new power cords?

Couple questions...

1.  Why don't you just return it and get your money back?
2.  Are you sure it delivers the improvements you state?  If so, why sell it for power cords.  Do you think a 100% passive device like a power cord will do more than an active device like this?
3.  If you're genuinely planning on re-buying a Plasmatron after getting power cords, you're guaranteeing that you lose more money in the long run.  You're going to pay full retail again for a product YOU ALREADY OWN and want to sell now at a discount???

Maybe I'm just not one of these anxious audiophiles continually buying and selling things, but I don't get the logic of any of this.  I like to understand someone's logic so that I can properly digest any advice they post on forums.

Thanks for the response Mattnshilp.  I trusted you (and others) would find the questions reasonable.

As a CPA, I can fully appreciate how a cash crunch and timing can often make decision making seem illogical.  I was looking at it strictly from a SQ and long-term $$$ issue.

Perhaps you can use the Cable Company for your power cord upgrade to try and find the right match without experiencing the same buy/sell issue you did with the Plasmatron.

I would just caution that the Plasmatron is basically just a voltage sag prevention device (not even for amplifiers).  It's not a power conditioner as the mfg. specifically states.  Thus, if you experienced a benefit, it means that your house has voltage sag issues and/or the power supplies in your equipment deteriorate in performance without the help of this device.  I'm not sure you can "offset" that benefit with any passive power cord on the market, but best of luck and please share if you do.

The only thing I'm still confused about is your comment that you "don't buy and sell things".  Were you being facetious because every sentence after that referred to currently buying buildings and selling speakers/watches/plasmatron? 

Either way...good luck.