is ayre qb-9 dac better than cx7e mp?

Rufi, I don't know what you mean by missing metadata but they sounded open and dynamic but edgy. I can't handle edgy when good digital is smooth and deep. HD Tracks rep said their downloads are hit or miss in this department.

Seems like quality control or attention to some of the details might be helpful on their site.

I just didn't know what you meant by:
"Most were missing major information . . ."
Apparently you meant *musical* information.

If the QB-9 loses out to the C5, it's a possibility that the computer system wasn't fully performing.

I'm not saying that it wasn't - but it is a possibility.

It took awhile before I got my MBP and QB-9 to move beyond the C5's performance.

It wasn't the equipment in my case, it was the learning curve that I had to climb.

So I am not sure they can be directly compared as there are so many variables - it's not simply one or the other - at least it wasn't for me.

"it's a possibility that the computer system wasn't fully performing"

Could be, but I'm finding my QB-9 more or less "immune" from computer-side tweaks. I suspect the asynchronous USB operation and galvanic isolation make it so that futzing with the PC is not neccessary to get great sound.

"The qb9 was no where near the C5"

My guess is that the QB-9 was not fully broken in. On another site, Charles Hansen opined that the C-5 and QB-9 are neck-and-neck sonically.