What is the deal with the ART DIO

I think the problem with the DIO question is that none of us are comparing apples to apples. We have some folks with stock units and others with DIOs in varying stages of modification. Of those that are modified (mine included) probably no two have exactly the same mods or ancillary equipment. For example, I have one of the Bolder mods, a Harmonic Technology digital cable, Parasound CDB-2000 transport, Monolithic P3 power supply, and a Perpetual Technology P1 upsampler. With all this other gear, I can assure you that the sound of the modified DIO is quite good if not state-of-the-art. Possibly the new TacT 2.2X is a bit better, but it costs between 4 and 6 thousand dollars (depending on options).

That said, I wouldn't hesitate to put my setup head to head with a TacT 2.2X or the lower priced TacT RCS 2.0, or any other highly regarded DAC...

Quick follow-up: I should have mentioned that my ART DI/O is not a Bolder Cable mod but rather was done on the West Coast somewhere and I was using an inexpensive Atari power supply. (Using a Bolder Cable powersupply with a Bybee filter might be interesting.)

Can't confirm these glowing reviews. A friend had his DIO heavily modified by Bolder Cables complete with outboard power supply and it has some idiosyncracies. He had previously borrowed my Hermes and stated the Kora beat it hands down but that it sounded very good for the money.

Really, Celtic66, the Hermes beat the DIO hands down -- that's interesting. I'd like to hear one do that in my system and if it truly beats the DIO, heck, I'd buy one.
Anyone have a Hermes in the central NJ area that would like to do a shoot out? E-mail me and we'll set it up...

What IC's are being used now? I know that people are using the Linear Technologies LM 1365 and LM 1362, what is the other IC?