Have you heard the new Zanden digital gear?


What was your impression? I've read reviews and manufacturer statements. All seem to make sense, optimizing 16/44 without trying to turn it into something else. Also tube output. The reviews seem quite positive but I'd like to hear some real world opinions.
128x128rja
The Zanden in my opinion brings a purity, life, energy, excitement and soul that a lot of other state of the art digital does not. It's the real deal and the reviews I've read are on the money in describing it's sound essentially accurately.

One thing that I'd warn that is not extensively brought up is that the player as you can imagine due to it's design is quite sensitive to the transport you match it with. It can sound amazing with a good transport but transcendent with a great one. I've tried several and so have friends who also have the DAC and they've all noticed the same thing.
At T.H.E. Show in Las Vegas in January I heard the Zanden transport and the Zanden DAC in the Audiopax room and I was most impressed. I went back to that room three times for some extended listens. I can't think of any Redbook system I liked more.

Regards,
Yeah, but talk about WAF! This isn't really a concern for me, but my girlfriend saw a Zanden 5000, and asked me if I was going to get one. . .then she found out the price.