Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Steve,

Have you heard the Big Six before, or better yet have you heard it in your system? I have heard both, and your OR5 at last year's Newport and RMAF shows. The sound was solid and I enjoyed the pairing with Vapor, but it was driven from a tube amp which Matt doesn't have. I think the Lamp DAC injected some life into his system, which is evident in his initial feelings towards the Big Six.

If you have heard the Big Six, then okay I can understand you only giving the Lamp a running chance if used with the OR5 in light of Grannyring's experience with the same Mac Mini source. If Matt used the Antipodes server or something similar then that USB input might be "good" enough.

But if you haven't tried the Big Six in your system, then you could be surprised by what Matt reports back after comparing the two, so don't count the Big Six out until the count of 10.

Good luck Matt, you have a real battle ahead of you.

Shaw - I have not heard the new Directstream, but I have heard the Vivaldi in two different rooms at RMAF. The Overdrive beats it IMO. The Analog DAC was compared in the latest Overdrive review. The Overdrive beat it according to the reviewer. I have heard the Wavelength, Berkeley, Ayre, Chord Qute, and Bryston. Overdrive beats all of these. My roommate used the Lampi7 in his room in Chicago Axpona. He says the Overdrive beats it too. I have not heard the top of line Resonessence or the Bricasti yet.

I have both tube and SS monoblocks. The difference with tubes is mainly bass and depth. A bit more smooth on vocals maybe. My SS is extremely good though.

Each Overdrive version that I use at shows is different than the one previously used. It undergoes upgrades periodically. This is one big advantage of my products. I continuously try to improve them and offer these upgrades to my customers whenever possible. Each show sound Is improvedmovermthe last. This show is no exception.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Shawbros3

Need the Dynamo power supply. Not sure what else was going on in that system etc... No way of knowing.

Matt, what happened this weekend at Audio Connection? Why didn't you hear the Aesthetix? Will you be able to go back to listen as I'd love to hear how it sounds to you against all the other DAC's. Let us know. Thanks.

Steve says his roomate preferred the Overdrive DAC over the LampizatOr level 7, that's him. Who knows what type of sound he likes, we all simply have personal tastes and biases. Who knows what Matt likes in sound/music presentation? I certainly have my individual tastes as well. I think LampizatOr nails the realism, and innate beauty of music, just "natural" not hyped hifi. If the Overdrive matches or exceeds Matt's Lampi Big 6 I'll be surprised (and impressed). Should be very interesting.
Charles,