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I owned the Mojo Audio Evo Pro dac per my comments vs the Galle. Mojo is well reviewed and known. Also owned and compared several other dacs to the Galle including a fantastic build by John Tucker of Exemplar Audio and the Merason Dac 1. I have owned and heard many cuts of Dry aged ribeye over the last few years🤓. Merging Technologies dac, Neodio and others. I’m no newbie or sophomore to auditioning fine dacs. The Galle is certainly a very special sounding dac.

Is there anything about a “standard reference dac” that assures it sounds better than a Tron or Cinnamon Audio piece? Certainly not. Actually, smaller innovative companies are where I find some of the best sounding and innovative gear. Great big audio world out there and all we can do is listen for ourselves. Said differently, a small independent restaurant can sometimes serve up a better steak than Ruth’s Chris. Won’t know until you venture out and sample. This is making me hungry.

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I talked to Colin yesterday and he will be sending me a Cinnamon Galle DAC for audition.

I realize that this is a new product from a brand that is relatively unknown, so we'll see how their business develops and product awareness grows. Of course, resale is likely to be better on products for well-know products, but audio products are not the greatest financial investment and the main goal is exceptional sound. I haven't had a chance to listen to the Playback Designs DAC, which costs twice much as the Galle, but I have auditioned the Weiss Helios, which is also costs considerably more, as well as the Grimm 2, and I was impressed with their sound.  So I'll have some reference to compare the Gelle to a couple of more expensive and well known pieces (of course the Grimm is a streamer/DAC). 

One other place I have found useful discussion about the Galle is Whats Best Forum: (1) Munich HighEnd 2024 | What's Best Audio and Video Forum. The Best High End Audio Forum on the planet! Here is a quote about the Galle that is interesting: 

I know Miguel quite well, he and the guys (Rui, Mesquita) at Ultimate Audio in Lisbon Portugal, he got me on my audiophile journey in earnest, and I will be forever grateful, he has a great ear, presently he carries Aqua, Wadax, Playback and Lampizator Dac's, so for him to say the Galle is a great Dac is indeed high praise, and it's good to see another Portuguese manufacturer join the Audiophile community....

Approximate translation from Portuguese :

It's no secret that I love Cinnamon Audio!
A very well kept secret of European Audio.
It comes from a country with little pedigree on the international audiophile scene but this brand is here to win abroad too!
My recommendation is no longer enough… It's simply the dac you need to listen to now!

Coming from him it's indeed "High Praise"......
 

@hchilcoat 

Looking forward to your impressions. The DAC's you have listed above would be on my list when I upgrade in a few years. 

Sorry to sidetrack the thread a wee bit, but I'll repeat the question @grannyring  asked in 2023, as I am curious to the answer as well: 

"Looking very nice! How much improvement did you hear by raising the Sons off the floor for more height? I know the LiveVibe products really help all sonic areas, but am specifically asking about stage height changes with the stands. "

@mclinnguy To be honest, I don't remember what they sounded like  re: soundstage on the floor. I only had them there for a few days until Colin came to set them up and we agreed that the Sons sounded better on the Sistrum stands and then I upgraded to the current LiveVibe Rhythm Junior stands. Soundstage height is great on those stands. And of course WVL is now offering their own stands for the SON speakers. 

@mclinnguy

I purchased the WVL Conica stands that just came out recently. They raise the speakers 7 inches and sound fantastic! Stage height is taller and the Sons sound even more open. Now I had to work on repositioning my speakers and listening position to achieve this result. I found more toe-in helped me not lose any deep bass or body. My Sons are now pointing at my shoulders and I can just barely see the inner side of the speakers from my listening position. I also moved my listening position forward about 10 inches. The Sons never sounded better in my room.