Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt, one last point about DX. It has 2 USB ports for audio: one is with 5v on and another one is with 5v off. Some DACs do not need power signal to be fed through USB and in this case you can use the 5v off port, which should sound better. You need to experiment.

Didn't realize the DYNA AUDIO CONSEQUENCE ULTIMATE was 95k MSRP (the EVIDENSE PLATINUMS are 85k MSRP). At any rate I am sure its a superb speaker. You probably just need to play with room placement a little more.

Cheers........

Another speaker you might want to consider is the KARMA ELEGANCE DB 11 S, 55K MSRP, I believe. Reasonably efficient and is supposed to be a very wide band speaker with a full, rich mid band. I believe the port comes out the bottom, although not sure on this. There is a new review in the latest ABSOLUTE SOUND.

Cheers.......

MusicMann - I was under the impression that the Evidence was $60k. The Consequence are $70k retail. I stand corrected. But I was not blown away with the Evidence and I heard it twice.

And the Kharma Exquisite speaker line is exceptional but rear ported and thus not a good choice for my room. The Midi Exquisite blew me away, but just wouldn't work for me.

I may end up admitting that the CU doesn't work for me after burn in and all. I have had many exceptional speakers in my room with my current gear and have never experienced a shout before. Which tells me that, logically, it's got to be the speaker. But I don't want to believe that.

I'm going to hook up the Isis speakers today and I'll let yo know my impressions.

I'm also going to bring the CU out into my open basement area and try them there to see if there is still a shout.

Back from a long trip to Japan and a long weekend in Knoxville to see my OU Sooners win a big one.

Just catching up it seems like the room is rearing it's ugly head again. Matt, get Johnny over there to figure out the fix. I'd be surprised if he can't get it done, if you indeed figure out it's the room.

Glad that you did the M1 vs OSDE showdown. I have really liked the M1 when I've heard it, but after listening to so many DAC's I still come back to the OSDE also. I have Steve's back up Mac Mini and so far I have liked it a bit better than all the servers I've had in my system. I have a feeling that will be changing in the next year or so, but prices are going to need to come down too for me to make a change. I still need to get a drive unit and HD to rip my CD's. Any suggestions there will be looked at as I'm finally ready to rip everything as I have upgraded my portable system this week too and I want to be able to copy my music to whatever portable DAP/iphone 6s Plus I go with.

This thread really shows the differences in speaker design. We all hear differently and it shows in the posts in this thread. It seems like we are all grouped into specific types/manufacturers. I give Matt credit for not being tied into one specific and listening with an open mind/ears.

I'm just glad to be back home and getting to listen to my Vandersteen/Ayre/OSDE, Mac Mini/Basis TT sytems with AQ cables and SR Powercell. Proud to own what I do, but I realize that I can get even better sound if I have a lot more money (I don't). Most of you guys are playing on a different level than 99% of us, but after so many months and posts, it sure seems like it comes back to source and room. Without those two things, you won't get the most out of anything. Thanks again Matt.