which DAC to buy ?

I just auditioned the audiomeca in my home last week and bought it. I has a top Dodson. I hear less harsh edges, a more quiet background. I also added a CD transformer. It made soundstage bigger and made instruments seem more destinct with both dacs. I really suggest you listen to one if you've got some extra cash.

I just purchased a Kora...it is fantastic.The one you did not mention which is also great is the bel canto!

Add the audiologic 2400 to your short list...with the right NOS tubes it can compete with the best.

I assume you are talking about the EMC-1, as I am unaware of a DAC made by Electrocompaniet. I owned the 24/96 version of the EMC-1, the Audiomeca Enkianthus, auditioned the Dodson (latest version), and currently own a modified 24/192 Hermes. I agree with Eadese as far as the Dodson V Enkianthus. The Dodson is very digital sounding and harsh. I also bought the Audiomeca after comparing the two. The EMC-1 is very good, but the 24/96 version isn't in the same league as the 24/192 DACS you mention. Compared to them, the 24/96 EMC-1 is dark sounding and lacking in detail. I haven't heard the latest version, but I'm sure it's also very good. I don't think the Audio Aero Prima is in the same class as the other products you're considering. The Audio Aero Capitole would be. It uses the same Anagram Technologies re-sampler that is used in the Enkianthus.

My choice is obviously the Kora, since that is what I now own. The latest version already has some of the modifications that I made to mine (caps, wire). There is so much room inside this thing that the upgrade potential is huge (see my thread on hotrodding the Hermes). Without modification, the Hermes has a much more lively tonal balance and immediacy than the Enkianthus, and still produces the wonderful soundstage and inner detail that makes the Enkianthus a great DAC. The unmodified Kora also has much better bass than the Enkianthus. I'm sure that the power supplies used in these two DACS have something to do with it. The Audimeca's is very small compared to the two toroidal transformers used in the Kora. After the mods to the Kora, it's not even close.

As far as the Delius, a friend of mine sold his after hearing my Enkianthus, and then bought an Enkianthus. That same friend recently sold his Enkianthus and bought the Hermes, and has now modified it as I did.

As one can see everyone has a favorite.The Kora does not upsample and therefore is not the latest technology.I perfer the sound of the upsampling dacs.I've owned the dodson 217 latest, the kora, and the Audiomeca and find the upsamplers to provide improved focus ,resolution and dynamics.Keep in mind some systems may not allow for the differences to be as notable as the extremes may be inherently missing.Total noise in a system may also cause a lack of inner detail which is the hallmark of higher resolution.