MHDT Orchid or Lampizator Amber 3?

Great news about additional tube rolling! 

The Siemen tube sounds like it could be a great alternative, given the write up on Brent Jessee's website. I've tended toward the midrange of  nos Mullard tubes in my previously owned tube preamp. But either way, if a 6DJ8 variant brings my Grannyrings' modded Orchid dac up to yet another level, holy cow!

Hi gentlemen,

I have reviewed the Orchid professionally for Six Moons, gave it a rave review, purchased the demo and still think the stock version is a great piece.

Just recently a good friend who does high quality modding of his gear, brought over his Orchid that virtually had all the parts/modifications that Grannyring recommends.  Yes, it performs on a higher level then the stock Orchid.  However , both the modified Orchid and the Amber 3, in my system, fall quite short of the "magic" that is rendered by the Audio Mirror Troubadour III SE DAC.  Across, on all parameters ( tonality/color, micro-details/transparency, sound-staging /air around instruments/layering, and powerful dynamics) it performed on a higher basis. It also delivered the highest level of liquidity and a sense of intimacy/attachment with the music compared to the other DACs.    These differences were easy to hear on all types of genres of music. So, yes if it's in your budget the Troubadour is worth the $ upswing, compared to a modified Orchid, and I believe it is slightly less expensive then the Amber 3 DAC.

teajay - Given your assessment of the Troubadour vs the upgraded Orchid and the Lampi how is the stock Orchid still a "great piece" ?  You note the that upgraded Orchid is better than the stock version, yet you characterize the upgraded Orchid and Lampi as falling "quite short of the magic", lower in performance on all parameters , and having less liquidity and sense of intimacy than the Troubadour? 

Hey facten1,

First, the Orchid is extremely well built, uses a great sounding NOS Phillips DAC chip, and costs $1,500 less then the Troubadour.  If there is any objectivity vs. personal taste in this hobby, the Audio Mirror does performs on a higher level.  However, this higher level of performance will only be revealed if the rest of the system has enough resolution to allow it to shine through.  Therefore, the Audio Mirror DAC does not make the Orchid null and void, just a great sounding DAC at a more affordable price point, that would be great in many less costly systems.  If I could not afford the Troubadour, I would not loss sleep over it, and still get immense pleasure out of the Mhdlab piece.  However, the Troubadour 3 SE takes everything to even a higher level of musical enjoyment.