Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi I am from the UK and 15 -20K $ seems like a good chunk of cash to me.
My previous source was a Naim NDS which I would have thought you could buy 2nd hand for that sort of money, it is a streamer and a dac built in with quite a few digital inputs.
I have heard it with the files stored on a nas drive and some of the most engaging music I have ever heard was on this set up and the source was standard cd's.
This set up then also gives you the ability to use it as a dac for your other digital sources.
I did in the end replace it with the DAVE Dac from Chord - 8,ooo UK, I think it lives up to the hype, I am not sure if I had the time over I would do the same thing.
I would have that you should not have a problem finding a Naim dealer willing to do a home demo.
Naim also make a similar device called an NDX that works the same way, I also had one of those but sold it to buy the NDS, I have since heard that if you upgrade the power supply that this gives the NDS a run for it money.
Naim also make seperate DACS and althoght I have not heard them I would imagine that they would have a lot in common with the sound I was used to. I hope this helps
Matthew Lewis

Thanks Matthew.  I had an NDS I believe it was, but it wasn't for me.  I didn't like the lack of usb or ethernet inputs and the outputs weren't balanced (need balanced with Ayre gear).  Just want's the right match for my system. I've heard it in a few stores and it sounded pretty good.  A bit too much on the top end for my tastes, but that's a popular sound, especially in Europe.  It's a great build and looks nice too.  

Big money doesn't mean better! I purchased a Krell preamplifier for 7.5 k and later a marantz preamp for 4k that ran circles around the krell! Dacs are the same! PS Audio Direct Stream DAC is amazing for a whole lot less than 20k! Unless your system is Levison, Audio Research, McIntosh, etc! The PS Audio Direct Stream will do the job!'n

Pennsy- there are a lot of giant killer DAC’s out there. The Empirical Audio ODSE is under $9k and has destroyed DAC’s scoring 4x as much. It was my reference for years until I upgraded it to the ODSX $14k version. The PS audio DAC has been brought up repeatedly; and although very good does not compare to most of the other DAC’s listed here; this is from direct comparison.

That said, some of our systems are Statement/Reference level and can benefit from the best available. This thread is about "Absolute Top Tier" and that is what I am after.

To a certain extent, this thread has become a sports team debate... if your a PS Audio fan, or Bricasti, or Ayre, or Schiit, or Lampy, it’s all good. As long as YOU are happy with your system then that’s what counts!!

Agree with you Matt.  I LOVE my Ayre QX5/20.  It really is a great DAC, but I'm under no illusions that it's better than the TotalDac and many of the other 18k plus DAC's. It does, for my ears beat a couple of the 18k plus DAC's though, but I'll keep that off line in convo's with you, LOL.....Matt, you have found your nirvana DAC.  That said, it's a great thread and you are still bringing in a lot of the 8-18k DAC's.  You should add the Ayre as well as the Brinkmann DAC's.  I heard the Brinkmann and I don't remember if I told you about it, but it's a really nice unit.  Like the Ayre, very very musical and plenty of the micro and macro detail that both companies are known for.  I think both hit well above their price ranges. Totally different design as the Ayre is still a whole digital front end (pray folks never use a DAC as a pre amp though) and the Brinkmann is just a great DAC so you'd still need a streamer for you Tidal or Pandora etc...  I'd love to see how close to the TotalDAC it could be.  Or even the ODSX (wish that was a remote as I would have done the upgrade when Steve had it in to work on), but I needed remote with my MS and having a family who uses the system.