2. digital
  3. 1398132150

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

Showing 4 responses by lalitk

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,640 posts
 
@toetapaudio,

Thanks for sharing the info. I would be interested in Mola Mola stand alone DAC only if it has MQA decoding on board. 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,640 posts
 
@toetapaudio,

Thanks for sharing the articles but they are somewhat outdated. Lot has changed in last one year.  There is lot more MQA albums now available on Tidal. As some of us already pointed out, MQA albums do sound better than their 16bit counterparts. 

The future of high-rez streaming looks very promising. Most of us don't wanna pay $15-$25 per high rez download.  

HDTracks recently announced High Rez streaming in very near future. 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,640 posts
 
@mattnshilp 

Great post (thank you)! IMO, MQA has opened the flood gate on possibilities of higher bit rate streaming. 

Here's to good times 🍻

BTW, LG V30 smartphone will be the first to stream MQA playback. 

"The LG V series is a premium flagship smartphone line designed to provide users with the highest multi-media capabilities and purest audio experience. MQA’s award-winning technology captures and reproduces the sound of the original studio master in a file that’s small enough to stream. The LG V30 handset features integrated MQA playback technology so that master quality sound recordings can be played back via the mobile device".
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,640 posts
 
@hifial 

Al, Would you mind sharing bit more info on Setchi D-1 grounding blocks? Try to google them but didn't find any info on their merits. 

Thank you! 
More to discover