Holographic DAC With Air And Decay

@fanofmsu Yes I use the ISO and DC Recovery.  They elevate the performance notably with a blacker background, better detail retrieval and imaging/staging.  Replacing the Wyred supplied USB and wall wart LPS with higher quality products is mandatory to achieve the performance I speak of.  However, for transparency, even though I believe the 10th Anniversary one of the best under $5k DACs and competitive with DACs many times its price in the areas I mentioned in my previous post, I am making my final improvement for my retirement system and picking up a Mola Mola Tambaqui from GTT Audio tomorrow.  The 10th Anniversary will be on the market soon.  I am going for that extra level of detail retrieval, extra level of analog/tube-like sweetness, liquidity, imaging/staging the Tambaqui provides.  It comes at a cost but I will not be making any more changes in retirement. 
 

@sls883 @fanofmsu I'm curious myself, particularly about how the Cyan 2 stacks up against the X30. Given the big price disparity, I would assume the X30 could easily outclass the Cyan 2. However, if the sound quality improvement isn't significant, the Cyan 2 might still be a solid choice.

I love my Doge 7 DAC.  It's extremely analog-like and 3D.  It projects a really grand soundstage, with tons of instrumental weight, air and color.  Actively musical.  You need to spend a fair amount on good tubes for the output.  Much better than the Border Patrol, which I found a bit "stiff" and unyielding, or an Orchid NOS, which I find a little dry.  But the Doge is a tough sell--I think they're out of business but you can buy them used for less than $1500.  And service?  Fuggedaboudit, unless you PM me because I have the schematic and our tech at my business was easily able to replace a faulty current source PNP.  A friend has had one for years now years with no problems.  Built like a tank.  Really a great, much-underrated DAC, IMO.