Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

wisnon, have you heard the Sound Galleries MS?  Just curious as to why you feel it will be the best?  I'm waiting on hearing the Melco NAS before I buy a NAS.  A friend of mine in Japan loves this NAS.  Thought I'd throw that in also as this thread now touches nearly every component in some way.  

We all hear things differently and that's why it's so important to know who you are speaking with in regards to recommendations.  I know that Matt and I have a lot in common in what and how  we listen, but we also have many differences.  Both of us know what those are too so when we discuss components etc... we each have our own reference.  I hear so many absolutes in this and other threads.  I'm the same way in my posts. Again, it just reinforces why we need to go listen before purchasing. I purchased my OSDE/SE as well as my Mac Mini (heavily modified by Steve N.) without hearing because I knew I could easily sell them off if I didn't like them.  I will probably be selling off that Mac Mini once I get a NAS and server set up in the near future.  I will promise you that I will only buy a server that I've had IN my system to know that it works properly when together.  I've heard a bunch of the servers listed in this thread and I too have felt that the Aurender sounds better than the Antipodes, but again it could have been system dependent.  I don't see Aurender in shops. I forget which one I heard it at, but I wasn't blown away like you have been Steve.  I'm just very familiar all the Aurender servers and have heard them in totally different systems and they've always sounded great and that even includes the 100xl I think they call it.  I'm still waiting to see what else comes out and at what price points. I have a GREAT server in the Mac Mini with that special power supply Steve built, so I'm not in a hurry.

How many of you guys are seriously in the market for a server and what are you looking at and why?  Fits' right in with looking for a top DAC.  

I know a guy that has the new Chord DAVE, and he sold his ultra expensive CAD CAT Server, because he said the DAVE does not care about the quality of the digital source... He couldn't tell the difference between it or a simple MAC Mini using this DAC, where with his previous DAC, the Server mattered big time.

I trust this guys perception, so am very curious about this new DAC!! If this is indeed the case, Chord has made a serious breakthrough that others will need to play catch up on, or try to, because this DAC can be had at a fraction of the price of the most expensive DAC's, and it supposedly sounds better than them all.

Just got back from CES and wanted to post a brief follow-up to the "digital amp" discussion recently.

Again, I didn't hear any digital amps in the class of ARC Reference tube gear, but I was impressed with the Kii Audio speakers that are active and have digital amplification.  In fact, they were hooked up to a Kronus turntable and had to go through an ADC conversion and still sounded good.

There's no doubt that many people can be perfectly happy with that sound.  However, the Kronus TT setup is so good that it's tough to say if that wasn't carrying the SQ more than anything else.

Genesis had a more than decent sounding digital amp to go with their speakers.  Not sure why they don't get more 'pub' from the digital amp fans.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day, I wasn't lusting over anything and was more than happy to get back home to ARC tubes.  It's still a night and day proposition to me right now, but I'll keep looking/listening.

The one thing relevant to this thread's "best DAC" theme could be the new LH Labs Vi DAC.  I didn't hear it, but it won an award (although those awards are largely meaningless).  It did look promising. The option to choose either a SS or tube output stage seemed interesting, but that's assuming they do it right.  (Shanling did that at one time with their SACD player, but both options sounded awful.)

As for servers, I can't see how it's possible for someone to like a MacMini over the Antipodes which is clearly the best I've heard, but I guess anything is possible.  I think it just shows people have different tastes and it's best not to take advice from forums unless you know that person shares your same preferences.  Otherwise, you could be destined for disappointment.

Guys, I appreciate the show reports, but how in the world can anyone really know that something sounds better than another at a show in those conditions?  Just wondering.  That's one reason I love Matt's approach. Get things in YOUR room and your system and listen.  I get that you can like or not like something, but I've always giving things extra chances if I hear them in a story or someone else's system if I don't like them at first.  Not flaming anyone, but I have heard my Mac Mini, modded big time by Steven N vs Antipodes and Aurender in my own system.  I know steven likes the Antipodes better, but I didn't hear such a huge difference that it made me even think of switching.  I respect the heck out of Steve and love my OSDE/SE, but again, we all hear things differently.  Soon the servers will be even better and less money.  I personally am waiting on Melco and also MQA to be offered.  I"ve heard some MQA in an all Meridian system (I don't usually like Meridian, but it sounded great) and I think it may be a difference maker.  Time will tell obviously.  

I heard the Music Vault in NH as well as Encore Audio in Sarasota two weeks ago and was impressed.  I've spoken to Neal in the past and he's a great guy who will custom build anything you want.  It's still on my short list of potential servers as I love the built in ripper that I wish all servers had.