Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Agear,

Having never owned any Rowland gear due to their expensive price tag, I have heard them powering many different speakers and will say that they make the only class D amps that don't sound like that classic "class" D sound. I've always enjoyed their rooms at the audio shows. I don't know they drop inside the amps, but they just sound good to my ears.

I've heard their DACs twice in two different rooms at last year's RMAF and this year at Newport. Great solid accurate sound and I'm not surprised to hear Matt has gravitated towards the Rowland sound. Although I thought an injection of tubes into his system could further heighten what he was hearing in past. It's all about personal taste anyways right?

Will be very interesting to hear his impressions of the Overdrive DAC...

Matt, Lampi has an aerospace engineer living in NJ who does all the US service (I believe) and you will not find better tech support. I understand your concerns, but in this "economy" nothing is really safe. Hi end audio is a fringe business by definition.

Don't bail on the Lampi without hearing those tubes! I am also interested in hearing all the dacs compared in total and not just the Aeris and Lampi.

Hi Mattnshilp, thanks much for your effort to give an objective evaluation of top tier DACs. I do want to make an observation/suggestion. Regarding the potential impact of tube rolling in the Lampi DAC, you state "Rolling tubes will only change the flavor of the magic".

There are things one knows one knows; those that one knows one doesn't know; but most importantly there are those that one doesn't even know one doesn't know. I have come to be very hesitant to make assumptions when dealing with areas in that last category. I've been surprised many times on what can't matter very much.

Just my friendly input. Thanks again for your efforts.

I'm not a bit suprised at Guidocorona is useing the Roland Aeris dac straight to his amp, doing straight to amps has always worked good for me, However, Mattnshilp, why don't you do the same if your final decision is the Aeris dac after all this is over?

but I am skeptical that a tube swap can be transcendental.

YES, some tube rolls are TRANSCENDENTAL. Based on Jafox sonic priorities, UN VT-99 is probably not for me.

I think you should maximize every DACs capabilities before the shootout. Otherwise you are NOT hearing the best each can do so IMO, wasting your time.