Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Work schedule, and wife's b-day take precedence. So busy. I promise I'll call CTsooner!

All are great DAC's. I'm sure I'd be happy with any of them. It's just finding the right synergy for my system and my tastes.

Steve, thanks for the offer, but I just don't have any more to invest right now. I have money in on your Overdrive, credit card charge on the DS and outright purchase of the Aeris and Big 6. I'm tapped.

Aeris arrives Friday. I will try to compare Aeris and Big6 over the weekend.

Sorry for the wait, I'm dying to get them all in as well.

Matt it's all good man. I know that Johnny is interested and would love to help you out with the Aesthetix. He's always available, lol. I know that everyone is interested and like one poster said, what's good for you. isn't necessarily good for.....but that's the fun of the whole thing.

Matt - I will send you a set of Final Drives and a Short-Block to use with the Overdrive. You can try with and without, bit I think you will find these to be essential.

Thanks,
Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Steve,

Congratulations, you have designed a top-notch DAC. When I get the chance I will have to try it out in my own system. Comparing DACs in different systems introduces too many variables. If you have a chance you should hear the Lamp for yourself, it really does present the music in a natural and realistic way.

To my ears, a good tube amp can extract more emotion and body from vocals than its SS counterpart. The difference with tubes is that SS has much more control of the bass and grip of the leading edge definition.

Hope to hear your improvements to the Overdrive this weekend!

Hey Charles,

I think you hit the mark here, we all like different things about musical reproduction. I let a good friend of mine borrow my Lamp L4/G4 and he preferred his Metrum Octave in his system. I was surprised, but can understand why, because music is personal and our ears like different things. Some prefer the hyped hifi sound and others like an easier going natural sound.

It was difficult for me to let go of that Big Six, because I was very happy with what I was hearing from my system. But the opportunity arose and I wanted to hear what the Lamp's DSD sound could offer. It appears Matt likes the Big Six I sold him, and if he does get connected with the Lamp sound like I did, it will be hard for him to let go of its natural sound. It has "soul".

Steve designs the Overdrive, so it's understandable he has bias. Even reading the review it wasn't clear the reviewer chose his DAC over the Analog DAC, more like each had a different presentation that might suit certain listening preferences. To say that the Lamp would need an dressed up OR5 to have a fighting chance is a bit premature, especially since he hasn't even heard the Lamp sound.

Btw, I need to hear that Yamamoto DAC someday! I will send you an email after I get more hours on this Big 7.

Sorry if this is derailing your thread Matt, didn't mean to. You are a lucky camper man, have fun with the shootout!