Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt, what about horns like Cessaro? There is also Trenner which are bottom ported. I know Jeff at High water sound is in NYC and you could at least hear them there. Also, I think Trenner may have a dealer in NYC...

Trenner Duke require bi-amping (4 mono blocks). Maybe the Isis but it's hard to find anywhere and I don't think it will give me the dynamics and low frequency extension I'm after.

I love horns and looks at many. My room is just too small for horns.....

I am always surprised that the BMC Arcadias are not mentioned as outstanding. When I seek to hear the best speakers at CES or other shows, I realize that the demonstration rooms have to be made usable very quickly, that electronics is often quite green, that others are demonstrating nearby and disrupting the demonstration. But I am never even close to impressed.

This is further complicated by the lack of demonstrations comparing an amp versus another amp or a speaker versus another. Overall, I can only recall one instance were what I heard at a show totally convinced me that I had to buy a set of speakers. I had to buy the Tidal Contriva Diacera SE. They were ultimately replaced by the Arcadias. I was somewhat impressed by the Arcadias at the RMAF, but they were only prototypes, the room was the usual terrible CES towers room, and it was their bass that most impressed me plus the sound stage they generated.

I have owned every type of speaker from compression drivers to ribbons. I think all are compromises.

Never heard of them. Will look into it. Thanks.
Is there a U.S. Dealer?

Matt, As much as I admire the thoroughness and exquisiteness of your analysis, I can't help but be astonished that so many dealers have acquiesced in loaning so much high caliber equipment with so little prospect of a return. From a retailer's perspective this is pud-pulling on a grand scale. I hope at least that when the dust finally settles you pay full retail.