Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt - just got the new Duelund and Jupiter caps to try. Building a new version of the XMOS USB module. Diamond knob looks really nice.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I'm putting a LOT of faith in you Steve. I turned down a killer deal on the hugely buzzed Trinity DAC with the hope that your reference DAC will toll in a new era of dac performance; leaving the Berkeley Reference, MSB, DCS and Trinity dac's woefully inferiority, licking their mortal wounds and wondering what the hell just happened.

But no pressure.... ;)

Matt,
Did you at least get to try the Trinity so that you can compare the sound to the ODSX Diamond when it's ready? I have no doubt the ODSX would be special but until you compare it to the others in your system, you can't put the OSDX on top.

I know the Trinity has bested the DCS and MSB stacks from what I have read, so I would love to hear a comparison between the Trinity, BerkelEy Reference and the ODSX.

LOL.

No. It retails for $53k and was still crazy expensive, even with my great price. And it wasn't local; so I would have been paying a fortune for a DAC I have never heard. I have also read it bests all else out there no matter what the cost, but with all of my other current expenses and projects its beyond my reach. If the deal is still available in a few months I might jump on it. I'd rather upgrade my speakers to either Evolution Acoustics MM2's or Focal Utopia 3 Stella's with that money (which would unquestionably yield HUGE improvements), or do all the cabinetry in my home office, or build an outdoor fireplace then upgrade my DAC at that cost.

Because the DAC and music server are so tech dependent and will likely be upgraded/replaced every few years I am more hesitant to spend mega bucks on them. We all know that great pre-amps, speakers and amps can last forever without ever really being "outdated".... But even the absolute top tier $50K+++ DAC from 10 years ago is practically worthless now on resale and easily bested by the average current $2500- DAC.

I love Steve's products. And, he is constantly fiddling and upgrading them and making those upgrades available to his customers for a reasonable price; not just discontinuing the product and replacing it with a different one. I really like that business model. It creates very loyal customers...

Actually a used Pacific Microsonics PM2 DAC/ADC will likely cost more than $20K used!