MHDT Orchid or Lampizator Amber 3?

@brownsfan Bill, at least Audio Mirror offers a 10-day home trial, so it's low risk to audition (also true of the Amber 3 from Gestalt).  And it's clear from our amplifier and speaker history that we share some presentation preferences.  As I noted, however, I don't really listen to classical (but I do wear an Ohio State hat every day).  

kalali and rx8man,  Congestion during complex musical passages can be caused by a lot of different things, and I can't know with any certainty what is causing it until I make a change that mitigates the problem. For all I know, the problem may be a function of the recordings and not my system.   Complex orchestral passages are as challenging to record as they are to reproduce.

In my case, I'm using the excellent Coincident CSL line stage, so I'm dubious about the preamp being the culprit.  Also, my amplifiers are Atma-Sphere M-60's which drive my 92.5 dB efficient speakers without breaking a sweat, so I'm not inclined to implicate the amps.  It may well be my speakers that are the problem.  But I've put a lot of effort and money into rebuilding the crossovers and treating the room, so a decision to change speakers with no guarantee that they are the offenders could prove to be an expensive and painful experiment.   What is left as most likely (in my opinion) is the Sony.  It is 2014 vintage technology, which is ancient given the rapid rate of change in digital playback technology. 

I recently read an interesting article (or advertisement) that discussed R2R vs Delta-Sigma with respect to congestion during complex passages in some detail.  Unfortunately, I can't find it.  

My current system is very good, and I'm not going to spend 10's of thousands chasing down a minor issue.  But if I get a promising lead on one of these very good DACs, I might just roll the dice. 

I have well over 225 hours on the Amber 3. I also installed and SR Orange fuse and very nice Mullard/Amperex Long plate 12au7 tube. Both the tube and fuse have 65 hours on them.  The sound out of the Amber 3 is now so effortless, natural and beautifully intimate.  

My system sounds just as I had hoped. Huge luscious stage with great depth.  I hear further into the recording and space then I have ever experienced before. I love how smooth and easy on my ears and mind the sound is.  Music just floats out and swells bigger and bigger as the volume is turned up. Not a hint of forced or overly forward presentation.  Not a hint! 

Brownsfan, I will report back on complex material and how the Amber 3 handles it. Thus far I find the Amber to be very composed easily sorting out all instruments in their appropriate space. 

The Amber 3 has always excelled in dynamic drive and bass, that has not changed. 

Has anybody compared the Amber 3 with PS Audio Directstream or Schiit yggy?

FWIW, I owned and sold that Yggy dac, the slightly modded Orchid sounds way less bright and digital to my ears and in my system.

Since the Amber 3 has come into mention by grannyring (who modded my Orchid)
Bill and myself would say it’s pretty darn unanimous the Amber 3 along with Orchid sound way more musical and natural to our ears.