Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Matt, thanks for your very detailed first impressions! Not many posters would take the time to be as thorough as you are. I hope that you can still enjoy the process, since shootouts like this can often be tedious and somewhat frustrating.

Bill-K : my pleasure. I was getting a bit fried by the end of my initial rounds. But with a nice break, I'm enjoying it again. By typing these, it really helps me to organize my thoughts and create the most objective findings I can.

I look forward to next week. And I really look forward to getting my ODSE.

I'll keep all posted.

I encourage Steve from Empirical to report on some of his upcoming upgrades. I don't want to say anything as I'm sure I'd screw up the technical stuff.

I see the APL has two fuses......changing these to better ones (unless it comes with seriously good fuses) can raise the sound level considerably. Also damping the lid with weight and different kinds of feet/mounting can make a world of difference as well....Sometimes removing the lid opens up the sound. How about a few WA Quantum stickers on the DAC chip and power supply caps?...works for me (you can remove them and reuse them...they do no damage). If there are undamped heatsinks inside then damping them with EAR SD40AL will make the unit way more palpable and real. It takes time to get the best out of a component. I know, I am just too tweaky....hey...I like it!

Alex- Are the fuses top tier audiophile grade? Do you think upgrading is worthwhile? I welcome your input and comments as I did Steve during my eval of the ODSE.

I do think some weight on top might help with resonance. The feet seamed appropriate, although I was blown away at the improvement upper tier Stillpoints made on my amps!!!

This goes back to my tweak/tube roll vs no tweak issue.
I am trying to compare stock kits to stock kits, just to keep things simpler. The very valid argument is that practically no piece of equipment couldn't benefit from some tweaking/tube rolling and that unless I make every effort to squeeze the last ounce of performance out of each unit I am not giving it a fair chance to win. My answer was and is that the stock unit should perform as intended by its designer as sold. It would make a comparison nearly impossible. My ODSE is stock and sensational!! Could a tube rolled, super tweaked Lampy Big 7 sound better then my stock ODSE? Maybe. But I don't want to go to the Dark Side, or forever will it dominate my obsessive compulsive need to continuously tweak and roll.

I have accessorized with power conditioners and cables, top tier interconnects and speaker wire, and a great rack. My biggest tweak needs to be a better room.

That all said, a weight of some kind on top of the DSD-S to help control resonance is easy and a great suggestion and I will try it.

To all readers - I found some scuba diver vinyl covered lead weights in 1,2,3,4 and 5 pound sizes.

Opinions on what size to buy, and how many (thinking 3 or 4).

Or is there a more audiophile appropriate solution that also helps treat EMI/RFI, emits a tachyon particle deflector shield and increases my Midi-Chlorian count?

I figure they are good to have in my box of accessories. And everyone needs more Midi-Chlorians!!!