Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

TBG, go read the DSD Dac review that Bruce Brown did for Stereomojo. He compared directly to the venerable PBD MPS5

I dont see a Sabre chip beating LPF DSD well implemented. THAT is pure bitstream DSD.

Vapor generally shows with Empirical and sometimes with Lampi.

07-20-14: Tbg
Agear, I wish you guys had listened to the BMC PureDac. At $1790 retail it is the best production dac I've heard.

Tbg, I have other friends who have lots of expensive dacs who also think highly of the BMC piece. That being said, extensive electrical grounding, mechanical grounding and power conditioning was necessary to extract its best. I think that is an another important take home point. Every dac described on this thread is fantastic I am certain. The question is how to extract the most performance from them to enjoy them for years (instead of a few months)....

07-20-14: Grannyring
I love trying new gear and playing. Call it a sickness if you want. I think it is an interest and curiosity:-)

Whatever you want to tell yourself Bill....:/

Hi all.

On vacation for the week in Maine.

Really really looking forward to getting my ODSE.
Still have the Aeris. Very surprised it hasn't sold yet to be honest.

Very curious about the Romulus. Really want to hear it in my room.
Honestly, I am curious about the Lampy 7 also. But the 7 has size restrictions that make it a challenge for me (the only place I can fit it is where my turntable is).

Also, the DSD-S is on its way. No idea what to expect with that.

So I've got at least 2 more auditions coming your way....

Stay tuned. :)

Matt just for fun, we should figure out a time/day to meet at John's to listen. I personally don't care about who wins what or what some folks think is best. I wish them all the luck in the world. I also thinks it's silly for folks to read what others think about a product, especially in this realm and make their purchase based off of it. I never understood that. I get it that some can't get out to hear everything, but why throw money at something if you or someone you really trust hasn't listened to it extensively?
It's sad to think that any company will/has be/been hurt in any way by anything posted here.

I'm not sure if everyone realizes that Aesthetix's has the Romulus/Pandora Signature (CD/DAC or DAC) coming out. You can get your old units upgraded. Tons of changes. John doesn't have it in yet as it's so recent. That's the one that Matt is waiting on.

The bottom like is that this is no different than any other shoot out. Different flavors for everyone. We all hear and like different things, but so many don't realize that. I notice that some posters here seem to have such strong opinions, but may not even play in this league and may not have even heard any or all of these DAC's. It's a very interesting read when you go back and check it out. I"m impressed that this hasn't become a pissing contest and I"m extremely impressed by Steve and his posts. I didn't know about your products until this thread, so that's great marketing. I hope that if Matt doesn't 'chose' your products that it won't hurt your business in any way. That would be a darn shame. In listening last week to vinyl vs digital, there is still a huge difference in sound to my ears. If you have a true hirez recording, then digital does things that vinyl never could, but vinyl still is so easy to listen to. If the sound of todays' high end digital comes down in price to the 3k range, I'm all in now that I've upgraded my vinyl to where I'm happy. That's just me thought and I fully respect those of you who are able to spend what it takes to get the sound that you want.