Worlds best DAC


Went to CES this year to work on my transition to high Rez digital. I've heard many of the highly regarded players in my room or in others systems in the past. I'm actually very happy with my current cd based sound. As I listened to various DACS playing CD then high Rez, I was not bowled over. High rez was better, but only slightly so. The best (and most different) sound I heard happened to have one similarity. They were 2 non oversampling DACS with tube analog stages(Zanden and Ypsilon). These were without question the most natural sounding digital systems I heard at the show. They made CDsound miles ahead of high Rez. What gives?

PS: I understand the limitations of show auditions.
bflowers
It is the CDT-Six disc playing unit , which weighs 36 Kg and the Fifth Element two box dac. The latter is a further development of the single box DAC 5 Signature. It used Analogue Devices AD1865 chips, which require two separate main cables.

"The sound quality was consistently overwhelming, almost defying critical opinion, constantly demanding one's attention with the beautiful sounds it rendered from digital sources.".
" I consider myself an exacting critic that demands high standards, but have been overwhelmed by the consistent inviting sound quality of this player".

Martin Colloms from the review.

He adds that his first reaction was hysterical laughter at the price but the sound was beyond anything he had previously heard and the only question was why had it taken 30 years to reach this level. Priced at 96,000 pounds each; out of my league but worth a listen if you get the chance; I don't even know if it is out here yet.
Thanks! good luck with the move...will try to do some homework if nothing else to read about what makes it so great.
I read sonic revolutions about the world's best DAC - or Digital Reproduction in
general - monthly since 1995. I think, now we are 175x better than live in
Digital reproduction...Go ahead please :-)
I add my contribution indicating the TOTALDAC D1 as the best (compared to BADA, Dcs Scarlatti and Weiss 202)
the problem with the question " what is the best (fill in the component) is that the "best" has to be superior in all respects to everything else. is there any component in audio that is the best of its class, even if cost is no object ?

for example, is there a best car ? is there a best person ? is there a best restaurant ?

I think asking for the best of anything is a rhetorical question.

I would say it is impossible to specify the best of anything, based upon inductive reasoning.