Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

I think this is still top DAC.  The Schitt isn't in this convo.  Guys, I would counter that many of us have listened to it vs a few other similarly priced DAC's and we liked the Ayre Codex better.  It also costs less at 1800.  This is a very competitive price range and yes, the Schitt is very good, but so are many others.  

The same thing holds true at the top end of things.  Matt has a system that is different than any of us.  There are many great DAC's that folks need to audition.  We all have different ears, tastes etc... so there is no absolute.  Heck, I had Steve's OSDE/SE adn LOVED it. I still think it is one of the top DAC's I've listened to and I've heard many of the upper crust DAC's.  I even got to hear the Trinity DAC some years ago (was the best by far that I've heard, but it's been too long to really say what it sounds like now vs the others).

I'm sure the Schitt guys will jump all over me, but it's like taking about any 5k speaker and saying it's a great buy in a thread talking about Vandersteen System 9 (yes, my favorite so far), Tidal's, Wilsons, Magico, B&W and any other speaker that's in the 80k plus range.  They can't compete regardless of your ears, room or system.  JMHO and those of a few others on this thread.  

Wow GeorgeHifi, my statement was a simple joke about the word “schitt” which people have been doing forever and, I am pretty sure, the marketers of Schitt counted on to help get their name known. We all know it’s a super performer for the money; a great value and a brilliant marketing campaign. My statement was an utter and complete joke. 

Your statement, on the complete other hand, was a spiteful, intentional insult meant to belittle my entire process, my system and a direct and obvious personal insult. 

I wont justify a response.  I’ll allow the thread to continue on the previous topic without interruption. 

Matt, You may have intended it as a joke, but it does not read like a joke. I can see how the second line "Sorry, Had to be done!!" would lead one to a very different conclusion. 

Onwards to learning about DACs and your journey with them. I have to catch up on a few videos...Google's been notifying me. : )

David_Ten - I apologize if It was interpreted that way. The “it had to be done” comment meant that a joke about the name “Schitt” had to be done since no one else had made one. I have ever ever , in 4 years, insulted a product by using profanity or degrading anything or anyone. I have said I don’t like something and then explained why. 

I’m not sure how a personal insult would be justified even if I had meant what you suggest. 

Apologies to anyone who took offense at my statement. It was a joke. Not an insult. 

Matt has been nothing short of a class act from the inception of this thread... Thank you Doc for all of your time,energy, and honesty that we all have benefited from in dacdom land...