hirezaudioguru

I am a pro-audio engineer interested in hirez-audio. I have the following comments related to your posting: The highest sample rate supported on your mac-audio system is 192kHz/24 bit PCM. If you wish to record the kind of great music you refer to, (and I agree that kind of music is the very best and only option), then get a Korg MR-1000. It will record DSD 128fs audio at a sample rate of 5.6 MHz/1 Bit. Input square waves become a sine wave on that system at 30 kHz. With RBCD audio, square waves become sine waves at 8 kHz!!! No one talks about the waveform distortion we all have to put up with by listening to RBCD audio quality. If you get the Korg MR-1000, be sure to turn off the DSD filter in the System menu before recording at DSD 128fs (5.6 MHz). Moreover, remember that it is a big step down to 192 kHz when you down sample DSD 128fs recordings. Multitrack workstations such as Pyramix or Sonoma do not support record/playback of DSD 128fs, even though their converters do. The only converter on the market that supports DSD 128fs, DSD 64fs, and DXD (384 kHz, 352.8 kHz) is the Digital Audio Denmark AX-24 (also marketed by the makers of Pyramix (Merging Technology) under the label SPHYNX II). The AX-24 is expensive $17,000 for 8 channels of A/D and D/A with MADI, SDIF-3, and AES-EBU D/IO. Consult them for exact prices, as I have nothing to do with them. To be quite upfront, I would get the Korg MR-1000. A nice unit and quite portable. It includes 2 Mic-Preamps (not the best, but adequate), but the best part is that the line inputs/outputs are +4 dBm Balanced... The Korg does not have digital I/O however. For a great 192 kHz firewire audio device, consult Mark of the Unicorn at www.motu.com. The unit can be purchased at Sweetwater Sound in the Mid-west states, or Sam Ash Pro in New York City. www.samashpro.com. I am not affiliated with these web sites. I get nothing for referring you to them. You are free to choose whomever you wish to make your purchase. Hope my words have given you help. I predict that we will see better options in the future. This is why I recommend the Korg MR-1000. You can't beat the low price for getting cheaply into DSD recording. Yours for great music.