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.

@lanx0003 I will be comparing the X-30 to my Gustard R26 which is an r2r dac like the Cyan 2.  I really like my R26, but if the reviews of the X-30 are accurate, the X-30 should be slightly better. How much the improvement is worth would very from person to person. 

Sorry, I did disappear there for a while. Appreciate all the suggestions. I need to do my homework on the new Wyred Dac. Not typically something that would land on my radar, but intriguing. Also very curious about the x30 vs r26 comparison. I have an r26 in another setup and I’ve been pretty curious about the x30. Even more curious about a potential r30. I’m also considering another go at Audio Mirror if I can find the right deal. I’ve owned the Tubadour IIIse twice and somehow always end up selling it then wondering later if that was the best idea. Then there is Denafrips and I have yet to own any of their gear so that’s also intriguing. Seems thery are in a bit of transition though and I wonder a bit about service long term with.