The DAC Scam - Almost everyone believes the hype

My favorite and current is the Audio Research Reference 9… well I have the CD9SE, which also has a transport, both tubed. 

@raysmtb1

Ah, OK. The picture now makes more sense!  ;o)

I have had several dacs through the years, nothing over $1k retail. They all sounded different in one way or the other. Warmth, coldness, detail, tone, spatiality, dynamics, etc. But most important to me, mostly, is the PRAT of the device (discussed here ad nauseam). My Adcom GDA 700, with improved power supply, and heavy chassis/internal component damping, still does a great job of conveying the musicianship and the composition of the music I listen to, quite accurately, to my ears with my room/system. Laugh if you want. My best, MrD.

Jason Bourne Steals the Blackbriar Files  Love the film, but noticed immediately his small hand held monocular outperforms my Swarovski ATX 95mm objective with 70X magnification mated to the ATX ocular lens module mounted on a Swarovski PCT carbon fiber tripod with PTH Professional Tripod Head (rail system) closing in on $7,000.  Now that's hype!  Need to get me one of them monoculars!