Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Studio Monitors setup correctly will give you very accurate sound reproduction, I use Studio monitors in the office and bedroom. Does it give you that magical sound audiophiles tend to refer too. No....

Horns or High sensitive Single Wide band Speakers do this better paired with Tube Amps. We all have our own opinion iv lived with super expensive gear and large Solid state amps. Now I’m using High Sensitive Speakers and lower powered Amps. Listening to music is now shifted from the realms of just listening to feeling emotional waves from it. It is a different feeling altogether.

What is it that Tube Amps paired with high sensitive speakers do that  large Solid State Amps driving inefficient speakers cant do? I have yet to figure that out.

Fascinating. Larry of Distinctive Stereo came over to my office last weekend to play. I bought a Wells Innamorata amp from him (just WOW! It's the best "affordable" amp you've never heard of!!!) to match up to the new Scansonic 2.5 speakers I just got. Sounds AWESOME!!

We used his Aurender A10 (which is a single unit combo N100H server and built in DAC) and compared that to using just the A10 server portion output via USB to an external DAC (Axogal Comet and Playback Design's Merlot).

The A10 with internal DAC readily beat the A10 server feeding either the Axogal or the Merlot. Seriously! The internal DAC in the A10 sounded the best is probably a result of being a good DAC, using a linear power supply, crazy short I2S jumper between server board and DAC, shared clock and just good design and synergy.

Also, the A10 server sourcing the Axogal DAC sounded BETTER then sourcing the Merlot!!! Not huge, but considering the $3+ K difference it still says a lot. That Comet Plus is a damn good DAC for its crazy affordable price!

Thanks Larry, for a super fun day! And thanks for helping work your magic to get my 2.5's dialed in perfectly!

Talking about dealers, I want to shout out to Paul Hovenga of Many Moons Audio who has provided exceptional customer service on a purchase that had some functional issues; and who will be arranging a TotalDAC Uber DAC/server audition for me in the coming months!

And a well deserved shout out to Dave, The Audio Doctor who just received my Davinci 2 today and has stood behind Light Harmonic and made sure my product was delivered without drama or issue! Can't wait to get that in my rack!!!

Matt, that is awesome news about your DaVinci DAC. 
As I mentioned to you I had heard the DaVinci Dual DAC at the NYC Audio Show a few years ago. 
I was blown away by the quality of the sound and this being at a show.  
So I am anxious to see how good the current version is. 

You must be like an expecting father waiting for the baby to arrive 😉

Thanks for the input Glory. The Merlot is an excellent DAC and shines in my main system, outperforming (to some) my prized ODSX. I think I preferred my ODSX over the Merlot, but didn’t have enough time to truly listen. I have wanted to hear the Rockna as it has an exceptional reputation.

In my office system, the Comet (which has well in excess of 700 hours on it and is well burned in) bettered the Merlot; but not by much. I made sure to say what gear was being used so people could pass their own judgement on my report. No tin ears in the room, nor was anyone sitting on a synergy stool. Both were bettered by the A10 with internal DAC. I would not consider my "inexpensive" office system the ultimate in resolution but the results were what they were. The Comet "belonged" in that level system, the Merlot did not. It may be a case of putting bicycle tires on a Porsche if you know what I mean; the office system may simply not have allowed the Merlot to stretch its legs and show it’s stuff. I never even tried the Comet in my main system as I borrowed it exclusively to try with headphones, and it excels in that regard. As you said, it’s an "entry level" DAC (and a damn good one) and I had not considered trying it in my reference home system. I did try the Merlot at home and several felt it was exceptional. Makes me want to try the Comet in my main rig just to see. I can say that one of the guys present did try the Merlot and Comet in their main rig and he preferred the Comet over the Merlot there as well. Again, no stool or atomic #50 ears, just opinion. And the beauty of an opinion is that you can take it or leave it with no cost or obligation.

Contradicting opinions and reports like yours are what makes this thread so valueable to everyone. I have said over and over, I just report what I hear. I welcome disagreeing views and the expression of those views. It makes this a better and more useful thread for all involved.

Sincerely sorry to see you go. Hope you check in and continue offering credible differing opinions!