Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Thank you Ketcham.

I find this thread enormously useful and appreciate everyones suggestions.

As an update (although the thread has taken on a life of its own and even though I started the thread, I love were its going and acknowledge that my particular needs are sort of secondary). That said…

I have decided that for right now, I am going to focus on DAC's with USB inputs only. Which eliminates all recognized DACs with spdif input only.

I have either outright purchased, paid in full for a unit to audition for a limited time (money back audition), or arranged to audition/borrow the following DAC's:

Empirical Audio Over Drive SE fully upgraded
PS Audio DirectStream
Lampizator Big 6
Accustic Arts Tube Dac 2 mark 2
Jeff Rowland Aeris

I may be able to borrow a Meitner MA-1

I will keep you posted…

The Aesthetix Pandora signature was the other one people suggested that I was interested in. I just can't find one to audition….

Would you consider adding the Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC to your audition list? Please see:

http://www.ayre.com/qb9.htm

Please see the review of the Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC in the Computer Audiophile web site below:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/565-ayre-acoustics-qb-9-dsd-dac-review/

I own the Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC and it is terrific. I am very impressed with the way it sounds. The new DSD version is much better sounding then my previous Ayre CX-7e CD player. The highs are better and so is the bass. Overall, the Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC sounds excellent in my system and I highly recommend you audition it.

I second both the Ayre & Wavelength recommendations.

Before I owned my current Wavelength Crimson, I owned the Wavelength Brick Silver Edition. Knowing that Gordon Rankin of Wavelength provided his Asynchronous expertise for the QB-9, I auditioned one against my Brick Silver. The comparison results favored the Brick Silver, but only ever so slightly....

Good luck hunting....I look forward to hearing about your results and your final purchase decision.

@ Mattnshilp, Hi, I would find a way to audition, in a store or in your system the Aesthetix Pandora signature before you made a regretfull, decision here, unless you just like dacs, The Romulas signature, all in one box solution with analog volume control is what I will be going with, this unit is hailed by all to better any pre-amp running direct to amps, I hope you can tell us here your impressions of the Aesthetix, cheers.

An in store audition is not that helpful to me; I need the unit in my room to directly compare... There are so may factors in good performance; the room is different, amps, pre-amps, cables, AC.....

I think there is a NJ dealer for Aesthetix. I'll call. I dont' want to overdo it on the shootout though. I typically find that comparing more then 3 units at a time is fatiguing and difficult. With the Aesthetix it would be 6. It may need to be over a few days, and time is hard for me to come by.