Aqua 'La Diva' ($9k) or Gryphon 'Ethos' ($39k) versus. Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T ($3k)?

@ghdprentice Before I decided on purchasing my Aurender N20 I exhaustively explored every avenue for ripping/streaming/storage. I auditioned Aurilic, Weiss, Lumin, Naim everything basically.

I was drawn to the Aurender ACS100 initially because it has two HDDs programmable in RAID format and since I wanted back up protection I valued this feature.

So I extensively compared the ACS100 against my smallish already ripped CD collection (ripped using DbPoweramp) by downloading onto the ACS100 HDD and from a USB and also freshly ripping CDs directly to the ACS100 HDD.

The differences were very, very subtle but they were there in favour of the ACS. So I decided to rip my whole CD collection on the ACS100 and buy an N20.

I have never subscribed to the bits is bits BS because a really resolving system will reveal many differences in digital cables etc. YMMV.

@charles1dad: Where do you insert your Fidelizer Nikola 2 LPS unit into the chain link of your audio system, between transport and speakers, and what is it supposed to "do" or "add" to the performance of your current setup that you sense it presently may lack or could potentially use some "help" with? (I realize you haven’t yet received your Fidelizer, so I’m not asking you to comment on its performance - just on how you’re hoping it might improve the already-very-good sound quality of your system.)

@erictal4075 

Hi,

Fidelizer Nikola 2 is just a direct plug in LPS to use into the RS2T in place of the supplied wall wart. No different than if I used Pro-Ject's own optional LPS in place of their wall wart. Virtually everyone who's tried a LPS with the RS2T says the sound quality takes a step upward. I will soon find out. 

Charles 

Ah, Charles, now I understand - I, too, am getting an LPS (from Linear Tube Audio - their LPS+Linear Power Supply). For a moment I was thinking you were inserting a device into the audio chain itself! Instead, you are improving one you already have.

So, we’ll both soon be finding out what an LPS does to enhance the performance of our little CD Boxes.

Another thing: I am finding that sometimes my CD BOX cannot read standard Red-Book CDs which, when I carefully inspect them, are free of fingerprints, dirt and scratches and appear to be pristine. Whenever this happens, I find that shutting off and re-starting my transport sometimes helps. I also have a de-static-ing tool I bought some time ago from Mapleshade in Baltimore, MD, which neutralizes built up electrostatic charges on LPs and CDs. When I click my static-charge neutralizer, it generates a high voltage which jumps across its little terminals like tiny bolts of lightning and neutralizes static charges which can build up in cold, dry winter weather (try walking across a carpet in your stockinged feet and touch a metal object like a doorknob with your hand - you’ll hear a ’snap!’ and feel an electric shock). These tactics seem to work to clear up the problem and my CD BOX is again able to read my CD instead of showing that large green or red "X" superimposed over a yellow CD outline.