Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt, I would not shirk your due diligence regarding the transport. The transport is as important as the dac (IMO) and you should not bail simply due to extra $ or logistical hassles. Similarly, USB-SPDIF converters have major impact. Steve did offer to send an Offramp and I would accept that offer.

At one point and time, Grannyring proclaimed his modded mini untouchable, until he tried Nugent's Offramp. Steve has an actual pedigree in computers (Intel chip designer) and knows the game better than most. It did not prove to be synergistic with his L4 and thus the move onwards. A Lampi transport would probably have been better. Based on reviews, the Romulus sounds better spinning plastic than via its digital connections which begs other questions.

My only beef with Lampi is they need an updated transport that can process all file types. I myself will be getting the Auralic Aries when it is available....

Agear - best quote ever in Audiophile obsession ... "you should not bail simply due to extra $ or logistical hassles." You, sir, are hard core!!! I tip my gold coated LP demagnetizer to you my friend. :)

Kana813 - John at Audio Connection is waiting for a new Romulus Signature to come in. No clue if it has a VC. I told him that when it has 400-500 hours on it to call me and I will audition.

Update: today at 2'ish the EA OverDrive will have 48 straight hours on it. But I won't be able to get to it until tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will have first impressions for you all by tomorrow night.

Hi Agear, a few posts ago, you brought up an interesting technical point... Electrical and mechanical grounding. I looked this up in the Rowland Knowledge base, and here is what I found in the Aeris section....

Aeris uses very small surface mount devices (SMD). According to one article, a benefit of SMD is "allowing these components to be located as close as possible to corresponding ground planes". See:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/questions.php?questionid=622

More on Aeris grounding... "In the Aeris 6-layer PCB, two complete layers are dedicated to ground. The clock signal is isolated from the signal path by these two grounding layers. Two layers are dedicated to power distribution, and two layers are dedicated to signal distribution. As a result, the clock signal cannot be contaminated by the audio signal." ... There is more on electric grounding and 6-layer PCB design at:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/questions.php?questionid=621

On mechanical isolation of the power supplies... "Aeris is powered by two separate low noise, passive power factor corrected, switch mode power supplies (SMPS) – one for analog and one for digital. Both are housed in a single machined external enclosure for maximum mechanical and EMI/RFI isolation." See:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/questions.php?questionid=619

In general, Aeris circuit sections are buried inside isolated pockets carved in the aluminum ingot of the main chassis.... But this is nothing terribly new... Rowland has used monolythic chassis for mechanical grounding/isolation for a couple of decades.

Other manufacturers may have used totally different techniques... Of course, in the end, it really does not matter... What is important is whether we emotionally drawn by the sound of a component or we are not.

G.

"Aeris is powered by two separate low noise, passive power factor corrected, switch mode power supplies (SMPS) – one for analog and one for digital."

Actually, the Overdrive SE uses three SMPS, one for digital and two for analog. Each has a Hynes-type linear regulator on the output. All of these are housed in a separate chassis. Very similar to Aeris I think, except for one important distinction; the Hynes regulators. The power and ground return techniques are very similar too.

Another key difference in the Overdrive SE is that any trace in the analog section that would be over about 3/4" long is replaced with an externally routed pure silver cotton insulated twisted-pair cable. FR4 glass-epoxy is the enemy of good analog signals. Dielectric absorption is the issue.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

"FR4 glass-epoxy is the enemy of good analog signals. Dielectric absorption is the issue."

Most interesting tidbit of information Steve. No more than 3/4" long. Wow, I have some modding to do:-)