DAzzdax, I agree that new doesnot mean better or that any specific design( upsampling,non-upsampling,tube,ss) is superior sonicly compared to other well designed DACS. However, my experience with DACS is they can sound very different, as much as amps, pre-amps, etc., and their has been quite an evolution towards better sound in digital front ends in the last 5 years compared with older DACS. It's personnal taste and synergy with your system, but their are real differences with the more current DACS that can raise the level of enjoyment in a system.