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
Hey Matt...If you get a chance to audition the Luxman D-10X you may be pleasantly surprised! Just make sure the player has at least five to six hundred hours of burn in time for a full flavor of the exceptional audio quality...
George. You said, “They the "clan" here were doggedly stuck on their views of what sounded best for RedBook CD, which they thought was DS (delta sigma) based units, and they tried every new unit that came along.”

So, yes. I don’t know what your talking about. Because my reference WAS an R2R. So clearly we the “clan” were NOT “doggedly stuck” on Delta Sigma only. But you will make an argument out of an agreement.
So YES!!!! For George’s sake.....

for gods sake, DONT BUY ANYTHING BUT AN R2R DAC OR YOU WILL LITERALLY BE MAKING THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!! It is IMPOSSIBLE To build a Delta Sigma DAC that could ever be better then the best R2R DAC.

There ya go George. We said it. 👍🏻

PS - That is not true. There are no absolutes. Only a Sith deals in absolutes. Are you a Sith George?

PPS - that Sith comment was a total JOKE!!! I do NOT think George is a Sith. Not that I have anything against Sith’s. I mean, they are usually bad but who knows, maybe there is a nice Sith out there. But George isn’t a Sith. I think. I’m pretty sure at least. If I die by force choking after he reads this post then he might be a Sith. Or I could have just choked on some sushi. Who knows really.
  
Do what you should do. Read reviews. Think for yourself. Go LISTEN. And then make your own choice. 😎
Alomrd- will do. I don’t review anything digital until it has at least 750 hours on it. 1000 is better. Digital takes a long time to burn in. 
Thanks for the suggestion. 



Matt you just promoted what you were reviewing at the time which was all DS ESS stuff back then, you couldn’t get any of the new discrete R2R stuff, so it was bagged every time I bought it up as being the best conversion process for RedBook!!! The tile of this thread!!

END OF STORY!!