I have a DAC 4.1x Balanced Signature, the model right below the 5. It was easily worth the money, at least to me. The sound is superb, and it's not ever going to be a candidate for an upgrade.
As with any gear at this level, if you have the disposable income and the sound is to your taste then it's worth the money. If the answer to either of those criteria is "No", then it's not.
I have never heard a digital component that gives me the satisfaction of the heavy-hitting AN DACs, but in a recent thread on "Reference Quality DACs" it became abundantly clear that others have different sonic and musical priorities that would knock AN out of the running for them.
As with any gear at this level, if you have the disposable income and the sound is to your taste then it's worth the money. If the answer to either of those criteria is "No", then it's not.
I have never heard a digital component that gives me the satisfaction of the heavy-hitting AN DACs, but in a recent thread on "Reference Quality DACs" it became abundantly clear that others have different sonic and musical priorities that would knock AN out of the running for them.