MHDT Orchid or Lampizator Amber 3?

Whatever happened to the Lab 12 DAC1?

Yes my Amber is still changing for the better at over 300 hours. Another thing we need to consider is the input we are using.  I know the Amber 3’s USB input is one of its strong suits and possibly the best input to use depending on your server/transport.  Will the coax sound as good? Maybe, or maybe not.  My system is maxed out and tweaked out for superb USB sound. 

Also, DSD recordings do sound better with the Amber 3 and the other two units can’t go there.  No doubt DSD sounds better than the same recording non-DSD in my system.  The Amber 3 lets me hear those sonic benefits while the others don’t.  I have a lot of DSD recordings. 

Finally, I use a no gain preamp that benefits from the added drive of the Amber over the other two dacs.   This is where system synergy really influences my system and preferences. 

The Orchid can be taken  to new sonic heights with rightly chosen parts in key positions. One needs to know those exact resistor positions and exact values.  The output caps must be Vcap Odam 2.2uf and Vcap CuTF .01 uf bypass.  The combo is magic in the Orchid. All fun! 

What's a "professional" review?

"Whatever happened to the Lab 12 DAC1?"

@twoleftears  - good question.  The answer is that was a bogus relaunch of a 5-year old product.  Hype and BS.  It seems have sunk back into oblivion.