Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Steve and George (nice to discuss something of audiophile significance besides R2R with you finally), the gain/impedance matching between preamp and amps is a HUGE point and can’t be over stated. Personally, I have tried running many of the DAC’s I have auditioned direct to my amp and I have tried using Steve’s Final Drive. I have ALWAYS preferred a preamp in between the DAC and amp.... always. In fact, I have pretty much always preferred using a same company preamp and amp for the same broad reason; the preamp is specifically designed to output the correct gain and impedance to best match the amps input stage. The only situations where I see bypassing the preamp as possibly the same or better would be the using a DAC and amp of the same brand where the DAC is also specifically designed to output directly to the amps. Jeff Rowland’s Aeris DAC is a good example of this. Of course, this is a personal opinion and many mix preamps and amps of different brands with good success, but I chose to always keep amps and preamp of same manufacturer to get the most out of a system.

I have had several Bricasti dacs in my room and have always preferred my preamp in between. I also had an MSB DAC IV and it also sounded best with my preamp in the signal path. I look forward to auditioning the TotalDAC system and will absolutely try it with and without. 

@mattnshilp   Well said and put.  +1

Thanks Matt.  As you know I have always felt the same way.  You know how concerned I am to potentially run The Memory Player direct into the new Vandersteen mono blocks IF I decide to get them as I can't afford those AND a preamp (would then sell my Ayre AX5/20 integrated, so I wouldn't have a stand alone pre).  Again, I don't mind properly done integrated products as they are matched perfectly and usually by the same engineer. 

@georgehifi 

If you bother to have read it, we also went direct. And there was a preamp (that I didn’t want to mention as Mick Maloney is an acquaintance of mine but seeing you want to know)

Oh the irony. 😂 YOU may want to GO BACK TO SCHOOL and LEARN HOW TO READ. In the same statement you quoted:

Did you really only use a passive preamp OR DIRECT TO DAC for this DAC comparison?

The reviewer who’s system we used is Edgar Kramer of Audio Esoterica, Australian HiFI, 6 moons, and is also the principal of Soundstage Australia, and if you bother to do some work you’ll find he also has a Supratek DHT Reference which was used but taken out as it didn’t give what the other configurations gave, as it was too coloured.

https://www.soundstageaustralia.com/index.php/reviews/84-wilson-audio-specialties-alexia-series-2-lo....

It also seems like you are confused on the gear you listened to. Based on a quick search, it looks like there is a Gryphon Antillion Evo, and a Gryphon Antillion Signature. The link that you provided shows it is the Gryphon Antillion Evo

........direct into 100kohm of the Gryphone, nor into the 10kohms of the Lightspeed Attenuator.

Cheers George

Where did you see a 100 KOhm spec, or learn how to spell Gryphon? The spec sheet only shows a 20 KOhm input impedance.

http://www.gryphon-audio.dk/Content/Downloads/Technical_Specifications.pdf

. 

Here is what I recommend:
1) Chord DAVE DAC
2) Chord Blu2 CD transport and Upsampler.

The combination of the Chord DAVE and BLU2 as an upsampler is very good and you can get both new and still be within your 20K budget.
I currently have 2 other tube DACS: Zanden 5000Mk IV and Allnic D5000. Both are very good also but the Chord DAVE/BLU2 combo is better. The BLU2 takes the DAVE to another higher level. You need both of them linked together to get the maximize the sound quality.
 have an all tube audio system. The only devices that are non-tube in my current system is the Chord DAVE/BLU2. FWIW.