Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Thanks to another audio friend out in Portland, I've decided to get an optical converter and have an electrician run lines for ethernet into my audio loft.  Going with the PS 1 LPS and a commercial converter I believe it is.  I still need to switch over to Comcast and then find the electrician to do all of this, but it should be worth it in the long run. Then I will focus on which digital server I want to go with.  There are so many questions that really need to be answered from ease of use to which software app you want to run it on. Is using a pad or phone the way you want to control it etc...?  I keep vacillating from top of the line (for the US) Melco to being told to just use Roon and get a basic NAS and set it up that way.  I need to rip about 2-3k CD's, so ease of that is also important.  

Digital isn't easy yet. I like one box solutions like a Music Vault, but then wonder about it breaking down as I need to rip a bunch of stuff, but once ripped, how often will I ever use that blue ray drive?  

I'll take suggestions on music servers/NAS drives and Roon vs on Roon. This thread is too important to let it slip any more.  We are all waiting on Steve's OSDX to get into the hands of many and the new Ayre QX5 Twenty is a killer at the price.  So many new DAC's coming out as we speak.  I think the sound of most of the newer DAC's are better than what we had at the same time last year.  It's a great time to start jumping in if you haven't.  

Happy Thanksgiving to those friends in the US who celebrate.

stumbled upon this thread today.
so, I read this thread until page 20... and then went to look how far it still went... HAHAHAHAHA - SIXTY THREE!!!!
I like to read and was reading kind of obsessively, but this was just too much for even myself. So, is, after all, the EA Overdrive SE it is, correct? Or is there something different and his Virtual System isn't updated?
Thanks in advance

Matt just got the new ODSX from Steve.  Needs to be burned in still.  I sold my ODSE/SE and got the Ayre QX5/20 over the other contenders in the thread and love it.  To my ears, it's just behind the TotalDAc and was very very close.  I like it better than the Berk Ref in that it is more dynamic and more detailed, while still being very musical.  It just keeps great timing and timber.  The bass on the Ayre sets it apart for me from many other DAC's I've had in the house.  This thread should keep going, but right now it's seen nearly every DAC in it change. 

I was able to get a Rossini in my system with the external clock.  It's a great DAC if you want hyper detail, but for my tastes it sounded just like it has in the all stores I've heard it and that's dry.  Just not the musical DAC I expected. I was never able to warm up to the music.  I think it's the typical DCS sound though as I've heard their top system a few times and they too left me a bit cold.  EMM is the DAC a lot of the guys are talking about.   I have spent some time with the new Brinkmann DAC and it's also very good, but I still like my Ayre better and it's a full digital hub.  

I"m sure there will be a ton of responses as most of the guys posting have been too busy to say anything, but they will in time.

Hi All!!!!

Wow, it’s been a while. But I finally have some new material to report. I have been using my Emm Labs Statement DA2 since I sent my ODSE off to get upgraded to the ODSX. I finally got the ODSX back last week and I am burning it in.

It looks the exact same except for a different name on the faceplate, and a cubic Zirc diamond on the volume knob. But the USB port is gone and an Ethernet Renderer is now there. I have to honestly say that the Ethernet Renderer is the way of the future and every single DAC should now come with one. The computer acts as the music server and everything is nicely packetized from server to Renderer and run IS2 straight to the DAC board. 

So several new questions and comparisons have come up with the ODSX now here. The first and most obvious is to compare the ODSX with the DA2, each using their best source. I plan on borrowing a neighbors Aurender N10 and doing just that in a few weeks when the ODSX is fully burned in. ODSX with Ethernet Renderer fed by my purpose built Mac Mini running JRiver vs the Emm DA2 fed by the N10 via single ended digital XLR (its best input). That will give huge information! THEN I want to be thorough and compare my Mac Mini running JRiver to a PC running JRiver to see if there is a difference between them. THEN I want to compare the ODSX with Renderer to the Emm DA2 using a Sonore Renderer to compare the exact same source with the two DAC’s.

Finally I need to compare my current wired Ethernet to an optic Ethernet to see if there is an improvement.

Stay tuned. Lots of information coming!!!!

Matt, as you know I'm setting up my optic Ethernet network in the next couple of weeks also.  I want to come down in May (booked in April with Juice Plus convention and a trip to see my daughter in the collegiate national finals cheer comp) and I'll bring my Mac Mini server that I got from Steve.  Honestly, I think it's better sounding than the Aurender or even the Antipodes that I heard.  Steve may feel differently, but this server is a killer.  I just need to get a Melco used as a NAS to store and rip my music.  I agree that so far anything I've fed my Ayre QX5 via ethernet is the best sounding.  I've heard the optical ethernet vs straight ethernet in a store a few months ago and was blown away by the subtle differences.  They are small, but big at the same time as the noise floor was lowered and allowed more of the recording to come through.  Yes, lot's of info.  Let's also plan and visiting Lavorgna at his barn.  I have an invite and it would be a blast!  Call when you get a free moment.