Thiel Owners

With respect to DACs:  my advice is to not get hung up on the chip set.  In my opinion, much more important than the particular chip that has been utilized is its implementation, the op amps employed, etc ... Two different manufacturers DACs using the same chip set can very easily present with very different personalities. It's not all about the chip. Just my 2 cents. 

much of DAC sound are the filters employed, especially with a time and phase correct speaker…as is the domain of the thread….

Ditto for negative feedback, etc…

I digress..

I am remembering that BM uses 4 chips per channel - from their website:
"Four balanced 32-bit D/A converters are summed together to create each balanced analog output. This 4:1 summation provides a 6 dB noise reduction, and gives the DAC3 industry-leading performance."
Let's see what Bill says.

I have an Altmann dac but instead of 1 dac chip I have a tower of 12 with Zfoil resistors all in place powered by an outboard power supply supplemented with a capacitor bank of 100k uf by- passed with film caps all treated with 1260 Elixir. The dac filter is custom programmed by Altmann.
All this is mounted on a Star Sound Sistrum platform..sounds nice.. Tom

UPDATE:
I order of the DAC's I probably want that are under 22k list (based on my own listening, hearing the lower end product and reading reviewers who have review both and I agree with the review of the lower price unit as well as my own ears)

Playback Designs Dream DAC
Brinkmann Nyquist
Rockna Waverdream

I had a few folks get in touch with me asking if I wanted to purchase their DAC/s. One was a situation where he has to sell off his system.  That was a Rockna Wavedream.  

The second was the Brinkmann Nyquist mk2 with latest upgrade.  I got a message from a nice guy in WI who was willing to sell his for a 'fair' price.  I know a few of the Brinkmann dealers and they said the for a 5 month old used Nyquist, that was a fair price.  For some reason, I didn't jump at this and I waited a few days.  I then got an email from someone I don't know telling me that a dealer in Canada had a demo unit he needed to move.  It was upgraded to the Mk2 with all the upgrades and it was 2k lower than the unit from WI.  I called and quickly agreed to purchase the unit.  He was the one who told me about the Playback Design Dream.  He loves the Brinkmann, but wanted to bring in the other DAC.  It's too new to find any used and even if used, it would be out of my range (10k or less).

Right after I told the dealer I'd purchase his demo unit, I got another email from someone who heard I had interest in the Rockna Wave if I could find one.  I have heard their other DAC and loved it, especially for the price.  I could have gotten it for a steal, but even at that, the Brinkmann was a better price and also a better value.  I know it plays great with Vandersteen's (or Thiels).  

It gets here on Friday afternoon.  I have to have my server builder come over to make some adjustments in my server.  He's installing a whole new USB card.  I am not sure which one, but he said it's not cheap, but it's the best USB solution he's heard to date.  He also going to do some more upgrades.  

I'm pumped and can't wait to get the new DAC in the system.  Back to your thread! :).