dCS Puccini vs EMM labs XSD1

By far the best sub $20K digital source I've experienced and I've owned ML 390S and dCS P8i. Read the review in this month's S'phile. First time I agree completely. Although JA says the U clock enhances performances, I didn't hear anything sufficiently obvious to warrant an extra $5K. If, however, you have a USB connected source, that's the way to go.

I've heard the Puccini at Sound By Singer in NYC on a pricy system somprised of vtl pre-amp and VAC power amp driving MAgico Minis and using high end Nordost cables. It was quite sweet indeed! Very detailed and dynamic, yet natural and with great soundstage and imaging. It delivered some great sound with musical ease. Even classical sounded very lifelike and convincing.

The whole system probably cost over $100,000 though so one would expect outstanding results.

The only weakness was that the Magicos were perhaps not the speaker to provide the nth degree in terms of big sound, overall impact and macrodynamics, but the system sounded top rate in most every other regard and whatever it gave up in that regard was probably not very significant.

Bottom line: the Puccini was as good as I have heard, but I have heard others that also sound very good for much less perhaps.

Mapman, which are these others players that also sound very good for less money? thanks