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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 4 responses by stanwal

stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
It was reviewed in HIFICRITIC, I will locate it and post. In the process of moving to Waynesville, NC from the Louisville, Ky area and things are disorganised at present.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
The Metrum Octave uses no digital filtering and also uses a new chip that give 18 bit resolution as opposed to the 16 bit 1704. Have one ordered.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
The Zanden gets a very good rating on the HIFICRITIC performance scale, 105. However the new Audio Note gets a rating of over 400 on the same scale; let us all buy one. What was the price again? Oh, 192,000 pounds. Left my loose change in my other pants. All joking aside perhaps the question should be rephrased as "what is the world's best dac that anyone short of Bill Gates can buy"? I still like the Metrum Octave and it is around $1000. Their new model should be really good at 3-4x the price [ or possibly more, haven't seen the final price.]
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
It is the CDT-Six disc playing unit , which weighs 36 Kg and the Fifth Element two box dac. The latter is a further development of the single box DAC 5 Signature. It used Analogue Devices AD1865 chips, which require two separate main cables.

"The sound quality was consistently overwhelming, almost defying critical opinion, constantly demanding one's attention with the beautiful sounds it rendered from digital sources.".
" I consider myself an exacting critic that demands high standards, but have been overwhelmed by the consistent inviting sound quality of this player".

Martin Colloms from the review.

He adds that his first reaction was hysterical laughter at the price but the sound was beyond anything he had previously heard and the only question was why had it taken 30 years to reach this level. Priced at 96,000 pounds each; out of my league but worth a listen if you get the chance; I don't even know if it is out here yet.
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