Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Olympic III only goes down to 35hz. The Amati Futura and the Strad are amazing. But neither integrate well into my room with their port location.

The Nola Metro Gold's arrived today. I listened briefly. As expected, the rear ports activate the room and pull the room into the equation. With the bottom or front port the room is silent, it's there but neither adds nor detracts from the music. The two low frequency drivers are listed as 6.5" in the specs but I measure them as 5 3/4" edge to edge. They measure in the specs to 25hz. Audibly they do that, but the visceral sensation of low frequency extension is not truly there; it is coming from their interaction with the room as opposed to directly from the speakers. Its reliance on the room to augment extension is exacerbated in my room with my nodal issue. The reason it's not as bad as some of the other speakers is that the speaker doesn't extend as forcefully as, say, my Der Muzik's. They have refinement and finesse in the low frequencies and aren't lacking. But they don't punch and have impact like I am after.

The rest is, at least on first listen, rather musical and engaging. The ribbon has shown me no sign of harshness or shrill behavior and the mids are proper, layered and just on the warm side of neutral.

I'll keep you updated on their progress. The amps and preamp were cold.

Matt- remind us if your speaker auditions include both analog and digital front end? Which do you rely on most for speaker auditions? Is your DAC still the Overdrive SE?

Regards, Josh

Hi Josh.
75% digital , 25% analog
My ODSE is still my reference. I also have a Bricasti M1 in house. I have not had time yet to compare the 2 although they are clearly very different.

I just got this review from Audiobeat and thought I'd share as it's on the Vandy 7 mk 2 which is in the running still:

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/vandersteen_model_seven_mk_ii.htm

Matt, if you are using your digital set-up 75% of the time in your speaker auditions, IMO you should consider replacing the Mac mini with a dedicated audio server before making your final decision on speakers.
The difference between using a tricked out Mojo Mac mini with outboard linear power supply, and just about everything else that can be done to a mini, and changing to an Antipodes DX server was so significant in my system that I suspect the mini may be limiting the true abilities of the speakers you are trying, particular at the level of resolution your system displays.
To try and explain the differences, I would say the DX sounds more natural, and certainly more enjoyable, because of the absence of a bit of edginess displayed by the mini, in comparison, and because of improved body, tonal density and depth displayed through the DX. It is not particularly night and day but the last 5-10% rarely is.