Good read: why comparing specifications is pointless

Not with this Amir guy. He is here to blow his own horn.

I am out. 

Not with this Amir guy. He is here to blow his own horn.

I am out. 

Not one of my components would pass the ASR litmus test, except my RME adi2 DAC.   It tests well but isn't nearly as engaging and musical sounding as my LAB 12 DAC 1 reference.    It's not even in my main system anymore.  So much for numbers.  

I have finally assembled a musically satisfying system,  and did so with zero regard for  numbers or specs.  "How does it sound? " being the only criteria . The gear that stayed did so purely on sound quality and overall enjoyment. 

ASR is a joke,  anyone who thinks a $500 Chinese DAC destroys all comers is delusional.   Amir called the RME the best DAC out there and maybe on paper it is.  It's a great DAC but the best?   No.   That title is reserved for something truly high end like the MSB DACs or dcs,  seriously.  

I listened to several DACs from $1500 to $6k and guess what? They all sounded different,  but they all sounded quite good.   I probably would have acclimated to any and have been happy.    I bought the Lab 12 , it was right in the middle price wise and I thought it sounded better than some DACs that cost quite a bit more.    

The Lab 12 specs are straight out of the 90's but it has such great  tone and lack of glare that you can listen for hours on end.   It still surprises me with the image it renders.  A nice 3D image that extends well beyond the speakers width and height  .  It's great in my system so keep that in mind, I'm only recommending it if you can home demo.   

@oddiofyl 

I listened to several DACs from $1500 to $6k and guess what? They all sounded different,  but they all sounded quite good. 

You didn't "listen" to them.  You included your eye and the rest of your senses.  So yes, we do have to guess what you heard since you didn't know to just uses your ears.

The Lab 12 specs are straight out of the 90's but it has such great  tone and lack of glare that you can listen for hours on end. 

Maybe.  Maybe not. I can and do listen to my systems for hours on end. As do many others here with completely different DACs including the ones you say have glare.  See the problem?  What you claim something about audio in a public forum and want to be convincing, you need to provide back up.  I do that in every one of my posts here as you see. 

@kota1 

If you want to get "schooled by Toole", check out his room.

Maybe you should.  Earlier you said this:

"You take Revel or some other good measuring speaker, put it in a room with hard flat surfaces and you don’t need a FR chart to know that it ain’t singing like it could."

His room has plenty of hard surfaces, right?  And he has the identical Revel Salon 2 speakers I have.  First you said such a setup sounds terrible but now put forth his room as an example of good sounding room?  You see any "acoustic treatments" there?  You don't.  Reason is that you don't need it to get superb sound.