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Worlds best DAC

Went to CES this year to work on my transition to high Rez digital. I've heard many of the highly regarded players in my room or in others systems in the past. I'm actually very happy with my current cd based sound. As I listened to various DACS playing CD then high Rez, I was not bowled over. High rez was better, but only slightly so. The best (and most different) sound I heard happened to have one similarity. They were 2 non oversampling DACS with tube analog stages(Zanden and Ypsilon). These were without question the most natural sounding digital systems I heard at the show. They made CDsound miles ahead of high Rez. What gives?

PS: I understand the limitations of show auditions.
bflowers

Showing 9 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the advantage of a tubed dac is the ability to alter the sound by changing the tube. sometimes one prefers more or less resolution, a warm sound, or other presentation. having a tube , especially in the gain stage has its benefits.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
what might be worth doing is to compare a "hi rez" file or disc , with the redbook version.

i have done this, as i own, several reference recording cds and hi rez discs.

i found that one is different but not better than the other.

i have also been thinking about the quest for the world's best.... (fill in the component).

it should be obvious, that since audio is a subjective subject, there will always be differences in opinion as to one component being better than another.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i agree with bflowers assessment of the zanden, but in its original version, rather than the current version.

the original had more of a classic tube sound. another dac worthy of consideration is an early version of the wavelength cosecant.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi chadeffect:

it's not possible to audition all dacs that ever existed. while i appreciate your enthusiasm for the weiss medea, i have auditioned it myself several times, with different transports.
i prefer the original zanden to the weiss dac. perhaps because i perceived a more full-bodied, classic tube sound, while the weiss with transport had a more linear sound.

i think one of the issues in this hobby is preference for spectral balance, which will determine component choices.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the problem with the question " what is the best (fill in the component) is that the "best" has to be superior in all respects to everything else. is there any component in audio that is the best of its class, even if cost is no object ?

for example, is there a best car ? is there a best person ? is there a best restaurant ?

I think asking for the best of anything is a rhetorical question.

I would say it is impossible to specify the best of anything, based upon inductive reasoning.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
I was asked about the zanden dac. in my opinion having heard all of the versions, I prefer the original. it had the classic tube sound and one could listen to any recording , regardless of quality, and still have a smile on your face.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
subjectively there is no best anything. objectively there is.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
there is no best anything. there are only priorities, which when satisfied, please the listener.

it is impossible to hear everything. one may prefer a dac among those which are auditioned, but that does not denote that it is the best.

audio is a very subjective medium. so find something that pleases you within your price range and be happy.

there is no product which is superior in every way to all other products. thus the question has no definitive answer.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi bhobba:

thanks for making my case, that there is no perfect dac,. your logic also supports the premise that there is no perfect component or stereo system.

after all listening to music is a subjective experience.
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