Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Ctsooner,
I agree regarding the importance of high quality electronics (preamplifier and amplifier) in the signal path. I do feel that there’s an overemphasis placed on speakers in audiophile threads/discussions at times. Obvious each link of the audio  chain matters. If I had to choose one or the other, I’d select great electronics with "good" speakers rather than good electronics with "great" speakers. This puts me in a minority position but it’s based on many listening experiences.

Regarding the Ayre QX5-20 you’re no doubt very impressed with it. I’d like to hear it in a direct comparison with the LampiZator Atlantic. This would be quite an informative and interesting listening session.
Charles

I have heard teh Atlantic, but not in the same room and system as mine. I personally like the micro and macro detail the the Ayre just nails.  I read that review of Steve's incredible ODSX and Plaskin calls his QX5 a bit forward.  I don't get that in my system at all and I have an Ayre AX5/20 running it.  If a recording is mastered forward, then it will give me that. If it's not, then it won't present that like many others will.  When I make a statement like that, I realize that I wasn't in the room when the music I"m listening to was mastered.  I can't know how they wanted it, but these are mostly tunes that I'm familiar with on many systems and if something is mostly 'not forward', then I'm making a broad based assumption that it probably wasn't mastered that way.  Visa versa.  

I now will sell my Ayre QX5, but like the Empirical Audio ODSE/SE, I will miss it greatly.  As for the Atlantic vs, I think the biggest difference is that the Lampi doesn't have quite the detail that the Ayre has and the Ayre's noise floor is the lowest of the two by a bit.  Charlie builds a lot of his own power filtering in the mids on up into all his units now.  The QX5 has special filtering in it. I also liked that it's got one of the best streamers built into it.  It sounds better by a smidge than the Aurender N100 that I heard side by side.  I also feel it's best in balanced mode.  The one thing I like about Ayre is that it's neither tube nor SS.  That is the Ayre sound and it's what Charlie has always been about, even back in his Avalon Accoustic days.  He's one of the few who were able to figure that all out. His diamond stages really pushed that concept forward in his designs.  

I just can't do tubes anymore. I love many of the tube designs and I owned Jadis, Quicksilver, Aesthetix, Conrad Johnson and Audio Research along with Counterpoint (best of most if not for breaking down monthly).  Until I got the Ayre gear a few years ago, tubes were all I owned.  Heck, I'd die for the Vandersteen 7 mk2's with Richards amp that is a tube/hybrid type of amp.  I have enjoyed the Lampi the few times I've heard them.  Would I own one?  Of course I would. Many DAC's I'd own, but I do feel that in the prices ranges I've ended up playing in, I got the right one for my system.

It's crazy as with MS, it takes me so long to write something like this, so please bear with me when I'm off on a tangent at times and if my thoughts aren't always in sync. Thanks.  

I do feel that there’s an overemphasis placed on speakers in audiophile threads/discussions at times. Obvious each link of the audio chain matters. If I had to choose one or the other, I’d select great electronics with "good" speakers rather than good electronics with "great" speakers. This puts me in a minority position but it’s based on many listening experiences.

Charles, +1.  Add me to your member count for this 'minority' position. : )

Ctsooner, You re in sync, no worries. My comment regarding the Ayre QX5-20 and Lampizator Atlantic comparison actually isn’t about determining which is better. That is pure subjectivity and taste oriented. My curiosity revolves around their very contrasting design (topological and circuitry)and approach and how this would play out in reproducing music. Each would have individual areas of strength but it’s their "overall presentation" that I’d find fascinating to hear side by side.
Charles