Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

It's funny that I totally have no interest what so ever in any Class D amplifier.

Hi Jwm
Is this because you  find  they all have an identifiable sonic  signature  or theoretical  based on the  fact they're  class D? Just curious.
Charles,

It's amusing to read about SS amps that people claim are "tubelike" in a thread about DACs.

Why not just buy a tube amp and stop hoping to find a SS amp that comes close?

Steve Nugent's thoughts got people all excited, but maybe you guys missed the part about him actually USING a TUBE amp...not these other SS amps.  (Plus, he was previously using a John Curl designed SS amp that he further modified to extract performance, yet it STILL wasn't enough and now he uses tubes.)

To each his own, but, personally, I don't see why anyone would spend that kind of money on a class D amp or small company SS amp, when you could get an ARC Reference amp that will drive almost any speaker for the same price.

Odds are good that you will then laugh at all the SS amps futilely trying to duplicate that sound...plus have a ready resale market...lifetime service...and unparalleled pedigree.

Many SS amps sound really nice and even have tech specs that sound better on paper.  I use several myself, but, for ultimate sound quality, most people eventually return to tubes and not vice-versa for a reason.  

And the $60+K Roland 925 monoblocks are also not worth considering, just because they are class D. Or his new Daemon integrated, just because it's class D; even though both have won best in show awards and have incredible reviews from people with reliable ears?

thats like saying those new fangled gas powered car engines are just noise and smoke, I'll stick with my horse thank you very much!

My reference amp is class AB, but not because I don't believe class D can do what my Burmy's do. I have no doubt a class D amp can be designed to sound as good or better then my 911mk3's. I just haven't heard one YET. I keep an open mind and an open ear to all new tech. What's to lose? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Your loss.....  There are some amazing class D amps out there. And some of them blow their equally priced class AB amps out of the water. 

Labtec - there's room in this world for solid state and tube lovers. We all enjoy our poison from different glasses. Doesn't make one better then the other.