High resolution digital is dead. The best DAC's killed it.

not realising what they had, traded them in on the latest craze of Sigma Delta super hires units.

They had to get a Delta Sigma based dac because they were sucked into doing DSD download playback, and this was their down fall.
As Delta Sigma does not get the best out of PCM redbook, it’s a "facsimile" only, and it’s not "bit perfect" .
That’s why many now with big CD collections are reverting back to used R2R Multibit dacs like the PCM1704’s ect like you did, and if not buying used, getting the new discrete R2R Multibit ones, which the numbers of, are growing at a rapid rate.

Cheers George

Erik,
Your point is well taken.
I've grabbed some of my really old CDs and with my modern disk transport and DAC, the sound quality I enjoy is often times really excellent!
I would not necessarily associate the format of a digital source (i.e. 44.1/16, 192/24, DSD, etc.) with the ultimate sound quality.  I have a few SACDs where I find the "regular CD" sounds better.  I suspect it's in the mastering.

I am a big big fan of BB DAC's, having really loved the Theta Casanova I sold too soon.

At high rez it was a really glorious thing.

I'd still rather have a modern DAC, especially for redbook.

Best,
E

Whoa...Erik and George in agreement? People, sniff deeply that rarified air. 

Hyperbole, newer better DACS help high res sound better as well.