is ayre qb-9 dac better than cx7e mp?

@Tmsorosk

Shouldn't that be the DX5 and not the C5exMP?

The C5 doesn't have USB input.

I understand the DX5 actually has a better analog stage than the QB9.

Hello Doggie, the way it was explained to me, the QB9 DAC was derived from the C5's DAC, the USB input was added to make the QB more universal ( sell more unit's ). The DX was made even more universal with it's video capability. This came in person from Ayre's X Steve S. now with AudioQuest.
For what ever it's worth, I brought both the C5 and DX5 home for a lengthy audition, the DX had a bit more drive but the C5 had musicality and a sense of pace in a precise way that the DX could not match.
I feel all the above are beyond reproach in there price category.
Tim

Just noticed there's a new QA-9 now.

But the QA9 is an ADC. Meant to convert vinyl to digital formats for archiving and playback, like with PureVinyl.

Having lived with the QB-9 for a couple of months now, I still think it has pretty similar SQ on redbook material. However, I have a couple of hi-rez downloads now (most notably, Ani DiFranco's Reprieve) that make my system sound better than it ever has including my very best vinyl examples. The texture and warmth of vinyl is combined with the the completely silent backgrounds of CD. Wow! More of this, please!