What is needed to have the best CD/Digital sound?

I'm a tube person and until recently I believed a tube CDP/DAC was the way to go. Now after hearing and buying a solid state CDP used as a transport into a non-os DAC I've changed my mind. I still believe tubes are critical at the pre-amp and amp stage to add the warmth, but no longer feel that way about the digital set-up. The non-os sound is very analog and warm in my opinion.

I'll agree with the statements on well recorded CDs. If its one thing I learned is that good digital gear makes well recorded CDs sound great, but exposes poorly recorded ones.

One thing I'd like to add is isolation and vibration control. CDPs have lots of moving parts and need to be dampened to some extent. A good rack and possibly some additonal tweaks should also enhance the sound quality.

Either entire system under heavy mains correction or the whole system off the main and on many many batteries!!!

I secound the Monarchy DIP it also put out a signal up to 5 times stronger + and if you don't want the upsampling to 96 it can be switched to 48kz.

I generally agree with Tvad & Clio09. CDP/DAC is not the optimal place to get a "full, warmth, rich sound."

These are euphonic colorations that are not in the digital source but will come with your preamp and amp.

I am firmly on the fence when it comes to which sound I like best: rich and warm (euphonic) or detailed and wide open (accurate)--please, no arguments about the characterization or semantics; I am having enough debate with myself as it is.

So I use the most accurate CDP/DAC I can afford and switch my preamp/amp between tube and solid state depending on my mood. This way I can have my cake and eat it too. Remember, you can color the sound of your source downstream but you cannot take the color out.