Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt,
Congratulations on your new speakers. Hopefully, they will last a couple of years before you start loosing your sleep again:))

I wish you tried Coincident Pure Reference Extreme, but this is a different audio philosophy: high power transistors vs low power SET tubes etc.

I am quite surprised by your Antipodes findings, but it is good to know that a modified mini can outperform a specialist music server. My mini was an old stock unit, so my results were quite different. Also, I would choose the Antipodes just for its usability features alone, as I said, I hate iTunes and had some unfortunate experiences with it.

I will also look at different server options after the DAC upgrade and would be very much interested about your experience with the Aurender models. Which model are you going to look at? W20 is probably a great product, but in my view is way overpriced.

Another interesting choice is the new Lampizator DSD Komputer: http://lampizator.eu/Fikus/KOMPUTER_-_MUSIC_SERVER.html. This a completely different approach to the Antipodes: a high specs Windows 2012 R2 Server machine with Swiss Audiophile Optimizer and JRiver as the user interface. It can convert PCM to DSD on the fly which is a great attraction to all Lampizator DAC owners including myself, even with my DAC DSD is superior to PCM.

The EMM Labs DAC2X must be a great DAC to outperform ODSE. It is on my DAC list to try and compare to Lampi GG. Does it support DSD?

Thanks,
Aziz

Matt, I am so proud to be a member of the rarified community of your certifiable crazy friends... Whether our symptomatology conforms to the canonic chronic model, or ours is a boundary acute degenerative case, I venture to say that we do all reach well into the stratosphere of audiophrenic morbidity.

* As you know, my bet was on the Dynaudios... I am confident that they will soar to even further heights during the next few months.

* I do admit that the win of EMM over Empirical is a stunning upset, particularly given the magnitude that you experienced. I am now intrigued to no end by what EMM has achieved. Will you be testing the upcoming Empirical superDAC as well?

* The following new thread contains a data point suggesting that the Bryston BDP2 might be a strong contender versus Aurander, in spite of BDP2's significantly lower price point:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1443219284&openusid&zzGuidocorona&4&&

Saluti, G.

Matt,
That was a Whomper of an update and I enjoyed reading it!

Glad you finally found the perfect speaker for you. Exciting news about the Emm dac. I have to admit I'm disappointed the Antipodes didn't come out better.

I'm going to stay tuned to read about about your Aurrender and the Romulus reviews.

Thanks!

Matt,
Your written descriptions of what you hear is very well done, when you describe the Isis analogy of the comfortable cabin on the mountain top, that sold me as the speaker which stirred the emotions more deeply with more appeal to the soul(well my interpretation anyway 😃). I admit my bias is toward the organic/holistic end of the spectrum. You make it clear both are quite exceptional in your home system. Again this adventure has been fun and informative.
Best Regards,
Charles,

Thank you for the update Matt. I have been following quietly and enjoy the thread and well written humor.

Having owned the Romulus and finding the $2200 Yamamoto dac to be better, I think your session will not last very long.