Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt, what class D amps are you talking about?

You said they are better than A/B amps, but what about tubes?

i've been to countless shows (and I'll be at CES next week), so I'd like to check out any class D i may have missed.

I'm all for buying a class D amp if I can find one better than ARC Reference level tubes, but I haven't found any of these digital amps certain people claim "sound like tubes" yet.  Actually, none even close to that sound quality to my ears.  To me, they seem night and day different.

The closest thing class D I would buy at a certain budget range is the Lyngdorf which keeps everything digital until output and can provide room correction that provides a distinct advantage for many users.

The new Technics with CAT6 input and a LPS sounded promising too, but only the budget model had price commensurate with performance.

Otherwise, I can't recall any from recent shows.  If any digital amp should sound good, it would be Mola Mola given the pedigree of the designer. I can't say I was impressed with even their stuff, especially the price (to be fair though, it was limited exposure).

i always keep an open mind...errr...ear

Hi Labtec, if you go to CES, try to have a look at class D offerings from

* Rowland: possibly present might be

- Daemon superintegrated ($42K), 

- Continuum S2 integrated ($9.5K). Roy Gregory's review at: 

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/jeff_rowland_continuum_s2.htm

- M925 monos ($58K) - based on NCore NC1200,

- M825 stereo (approx $30K - based on NCore NC1200). Marc Michelson's review at: 

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/jeff_rowland_model_825.htm

- M625 S2 stereo (approx $15K - this one running in class A/B).

* Gato might show its newest integrated amps... I suspect you might enjoy more the one based on the Pascal M2-Pro than the S2-Pro version.

* Bel Canto should have its Black System, which is based on customized versions of the NCore NC1200 designed by Bruno Putzeys (approx $50K).

* On A Higher Note is likely to have once again the Mola Mola... It is a fine NCore NC1200 implementation, but you might find it a little forward for your taste.

* Hopefully, Merrill Audio will have its Veritas monos based on NCore ($12K). My review at:

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue68/merrill_audio.htm

* Devialet also makes fine class D integrated amps.... I find them a little too peaky for my taste, but my memory is of a 3 years ago, and they are likely to have evolved since then.

So where does the EMMLabs DA2 fit in the with the EMM line with the XDS1/V2 cd player? Is the DA2 a new, better DAC than the one in the XDS1? It sounds that way...
I would think a new cd player would be next if this is so.

Any one have feedback on the aesthetix Romulus Eclipse?,  a lot of money for a player that has an obsolete dac!, A  $900.00 phone will have a Stereo D/A converter from ESS Technology.This converter (SABRE9018AQ2M) debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2015, and is the world’s most powerful 32-bit converter. It features 129dB dynamic range and -120dB (0.0001 percent) harmonic distortion.

The Romulus is popular because it sounds good. I'll take their Burr Brown Chip any day over a Sabre.