Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

The Mini that I have was totally rebuilt by Steve himself as it was his old server he used at shows.  I has it's limit, but with the Hynes regulated power supply and all the mods he did, it's not like any mini I've ever heard.  I'm about to purchase the Melco to use only as a NAS eventually.  As I think I've posted, this is the unit that the Ayre folks use with their QX-5/Twenty.  Even if I don't get the new Ayre, the Melco will be a great NAS and can be used as the streamer/server also.  With the new update to the Melco, you can easily rip to it also and I know they are even working on an optical drive of their own that will just rip quickly and easily with dbpoweramp.  

ctsooner kind of proves my point. :)  That's a lot of upgrading to make a source sound good. 

I'm sticking to my Logitech Squeezebox until the Zombie apocalypse happens, thank you very much.  Then I plan to walk into an empty audio store and pick up something for free. 

Best,

Erik 

What are you talking about Erik?  What point?  Proves nothing other than I am upgrading again as I have been planing for ages.  The digital system I have/selling is awesome and worthy to be in the highest of systems.  I already miss the darn thing.  The DCS, Trinity and Berk Ref are the only other DAC's I've personally heard enough of to like better than the OSDE/SE.  As for the Mac Mini, it sounds nothing like other servers I've heard.  I do feel some of them are better, but they are also in another price range totally. I'm not sure the N10H sound better.  Different, but not sure it's better.  That's nearly 3k for the server.  I do know the ones lower I don't like.  I hope that servers that are new and much more costly sound better.  If not, there's a problem.  If you want to try and read into my mind and come up with something that isn't true to let you prove a point, go ahead.  Very strange response, but I'm not here to fight.  I'm sure that you are correct in all your assumptions Erik. Still don't understand the second part of your post and I had someone contact me off board to ask what you meant in your post.  Congrats on waiting to get something for nothing.  I'm glad you love your system.  That's what audio is all about. :)

Wow, for some one not here to fight you type with a lot of attitude.

Let me rephrase my meaning in a kinder, gentler Erik in the hopes that any attitude present on my own writing is taken away.

I only meant that if you need to upgrade a source component a lot to make it sound good it makes me question the value of the source to begin with. So, not being an expert or caring to spend a lot of money or time on Mac Mini's, your perspective made me even less willing to try a Mac Mini as a source.

That's all. Not worth fighting about.  I think Mac Mini's are adorable, but between your comments and my previous two listening experience, I'm unlikely to rush out and get one for music listening.

Enjoy your path as much as you can!


Erik

Erik you read something into my comments that I never said. I was planning to get this Ayre with a Melco when I purchased thEmpirical as I've know. All about it for a bit. What Steve did to my mini server has it sounding outstanding. I'd have kept them both and been very happy. If sharing that I never said what you said I did is attitude so be it I guess. L was laughing the whole time typing Erik. Upgrading doesn't mean that you need better sound it can also mean you love what you have but can afford what you ultimately want. How many in this thread love to upgrade when they can afford it?  

I just shared that you were totally incorrect trying to reason why I'm making moves. I know a few others reading this thread who are laughing too. Not taking it as seriously as you may believe.