Sony HAP-Z1ES or NAD M51?

I compared the Benchmark to the NAD M51 and bought the M51. Don't know about the Sony although its ability to stream and store music seem very cool--a one box solution. The M51 can, however, allow you to input digital information from a transport like an Oppo or other DVD/CD player and the Sony can't. The Sony can play DSD, the NAD can't. DSD is a pretty limited format in downloadable form, however. I would suspect the NAD on a purely sound quality basis might edge the Sony, but we're talking about the kind of sound you like. I find the NAD to very organic. Does the Squeezebox allow you to output high resolution (24/192) files and will it allow you to stream?

Yes, the Squeezebox Touch is a wireless streamer and can support 24/192 with some tweaks.

Yes, I like the connectivity of the NAD M51.

However, just looking for folks who have heard the Sony HAP-Z1ES and how its sound quality compares to other high-end DACs like NAD M51.

Go to slimdevice forum and download the third part app that enables 24/192 and add other goodies onto the Touch. Then replace the 5V DC wall wart with a linear power supply, best lab grade, add a proper after market power cord / socket and it gets as good as the M51.

I have a M51 and love it....best sounding source component I've ever owned. Incredible with well recorded material in 24/96, not talking HD Tracks but native 24/96k recordings.

It serves as the hub for my digital sources, CD,BluRay, Cable, Netflix, Pandora and sounds excellent with any source. The volume control is the best I've ever used although NAD's omission of front panel volume prevents me from recommending it as a preamp...it's the only thing keeping it from being "perfect".

This DAC had me pulling out all of my CDs and listen to them like they were new again...the first couple of weeks I was up until 1 and 2 am listening to stuff I discovered all over again because it never sounded this good.

Once you have a DAC with HDMI there's no turning back, movies sound incredible in 2.1 with this DAC... This DAC is as good as people say and I thought it was money well spent although it was hard parting with $2k I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it and have no plans to upgrade for a while.