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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

Showing 6 responses by markolino72

markolino72
9 posts
 
i use a 26$ dac uca202
no stupid drivers needed
works on every device
excellent dac, musical,prat,timbre
now i’m hearing all my music AGAIN
i had expensive dacs that only sounded good with excellent recorded cd’s, all other were inaudible!

ps: complemented with a little tube preamp pa-10se
search YouTube! 30$ audiophile
markolino72
9 posts
 
sure some dacs are better than this little thing! but i think for less than 1000-500$ you can find a excellent dac, DON’T BUY THOSE RIDICOULOUSLY PRICED DACS(with allmost Nothing Inside) , to stop and force the industry stolling you! Go Pro Audio


markolino72
9 posts
 
the uca 202 INSTANTANLY immerses me in music like no other expensive dac can do!
markolino72
9 posts
 
i’m not throlling!
i just tried to say that i enjoy more this little dac FOR REDBOOK(and my collection is 99.9% of redbook) than any other i had (ex:audio note dac 3) which was more natural, more palpable, more realistic BUT LESS MUSICAL! SOTA? hummmm BUT NO MUSIC? Something is wrong with ultra capable dacs! i also had a 1bit native dsd cs4398 dac very good in dsd but atrocious with 44/16. Top tier dac for redbook is probably a dac that does only redbook!!!!! the uca202 seems to output what is on the cd and it has no preamp or analogue output circuit as high end dacs. so you can add your own preamp!!! 2. SOTA DAC working on usb??? bah. AND AGAIN i insist that with such SOTA devices 50% of your collection is inaudible (i hear a lot of classical music not recognized to be well recorded) and when the message goes very complex a lot of those SOTA dacs are totally UNCAPABLE. if you wanna buy a 30.000$ dac just for hear Diana Krall or only some jazz trios is up to you! 3. some high end music servers are build around a 40$ raspberry like boards! and it will be sold for 6000$. IS TIME TO WAKE UP IDIOPHILES!















markolino72
9 posts
 
uca202 (not the uca222 never heard it)!
markolino72
9 posts
 
i second you willemj, there is no miracle!
i just tried to give an example! a very good dac can cost 30$ and an excellent dac don’t need to cost 60k$
mattnshilp: maybe take a look at the Dangerous Convert 2
i’m use to hear music 8h/day so for me ultra resolving dacs don’t do it.
with the uca202 i don’t listen to my gear anymore!
YouTube p2T5nUsAaq0
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