Another new DAC: Audio Mirror

Great update. A more fair comparison would be the AM SE to the Orchid upgraded with the mod package I have been performing. The upgraded Orchid performs at a much higher level across the board vs a stock unit. The difference is not small. The Orchid really responds nicely to well chosen internal upgrades.

The total cost of an upgraded Orchid is about $900 less than the AM SE. This would be an interesting comparison. Hope to listen to the AM SE soon.   

Appreciate the mini review teajay.
I actually like the idea of a stock versions battle. A price point easier on the wallet. I was impressed enough with my stock Tubadour to have Vlad update it at a later time, which was helpful. And turnaround was fast! The SE version is certainly better, but it does not change the sonic signature of the dac - the stock version is very good! Vlad is great to deal with and made right in the good ol USA

Hey gentlemen,

I have been receiving scores of Emails asking for more specific/precise details regarding the performance of the SE DAC. Guy's what I posted already is as far as I'm going to go, because I want to keep the details and nuances for my full length review that I'll write sometime at the end of next month.  This will also allow me to get over 200 hours on the DAC and see if it improves in the ways that other owners have stated takes it to even a higher level of sublime performance. We shall see!  I'm finding it hard to go about my business instead of listening to my system, because of the beauty and emotional connection with the music that the SE is creating in the context of rig. 

Grannyring’s right, wait for a modded Orchid for a fair comparison.

I understand there are some big fans of the Orchid DAC here, but let’s face it - the Audio Mirror DAC is in another league.

@teajay said it - "Yes, it does everything with more finesse and performs on a higher qualitative then the Orchid DAC."

I sold my maxed out Audio Note Kit DAC 5.1 Signature, because the Audio Mirror sounded better.

I also had a Denafrips Terminator in my system for almost a year. I would take the Audio Mirror SE DAC instead of the Terminator any day! With no hesitation at all. And I would not regret for a second.

You asked @teajay for comparison. He listened and spent the time to do it. And now it’s not fair?!? He has not even heard the full potential of the Audio Mirror DAC yet, because it’s not fully broken in yet. This Audio Mirror DAC is up there with $10K DACs, believe it or not. You just need to optimize the upstream components, and it would deliver.