Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

CTSooner - so sorry to hear that. My sympathies and thoughts during your hard times. I lost my Dad while I was in Med school, he was only 49. Hardest thing I ever had to deal with. PM sent with phone #.

I've been researching music servers like crazy.

Guido - great to hear from you. I couldn't open the link on my iPad. I'll try it on my computer later. I agree with your feeling on battery, ultra caps, etc. Even a well implemented robust linear power supply can make a unit sing, as long as it gets a healthy supply of clean and relatively unrestricted electrons. I am fortunate that my new room has very clean AC to start with and with a 4 gauge run from main panel to dedicated sub-panel and isolated 10 gauge runs to each outlet, there is practically unrestricted power getting to each unit. Battery power done wrong can actually limit power supply, so as we all know, just putting batteries in doesn't make it better.

My room is hopefully going to be ready in about 2 weeks. I'm waiting on my 9m XLR interconnects to arrive and my side wall baffle diffusers which were on backorder a few weeks.

Then I can start to pursue some more DAC evals and maybe try borrowing a music server or two.

Guido - Sounds awesome! But we want to hear YOU play it!!!! grins….

Sorry to hear about the paternal losses.

I lost mine last year and have not been the same since. You really lose a part of you…

Best wishes to both of you, even you Matt after all these years…the pain never fully goes away.
CStooner, treasure the remaining moments.

I have been enjoying my new PS Audio DirectStream DAC now for two months, and it never ceases to put a smile on my face!

Almost every album I listen to now has content I was not enjoying before, it might be a quiet guitar on one channel, some backup singer, a small amount of percussion, etc. This unit really brings out the detail I find is lost with other DACs.

I'm very happy with this unit.

Like other comments on this forum, I was concerned about buying the unit "sight unseen", but if you purchase the unit from an authorized dealer, you have 30 days to return the unit to PS Audio.

If you are like me, you won't think of returning it!

Thanks guys. Got to spend about 2hrs with just my dad and two siblings yesterday. I don't think he'll be there in a few hours when we go back. Family flying in from CT today and daughter in from Univ of New Hamp also. Purple heart from WW2 and just a stand up guy. Started in audio when we went to a local dealer at age 9. All Pioneer gear when it was decent. I just tuned up that TT for my brother and it still works, lol.

Matt, thanks, I'll call when I can. I want in on this server deal, but like we said, until more companies get involved the costs will stay very high. That's why I went the mac mini route properly done. I went to a few dealers and they too are kind of waiting on better servers at lower costs. I think we cold see the choices double or more over the next year. My concern is that many of these units will still be the all in one deals. That's going to be great for folks who's systems don't need dedicated servers. I wan to hear what Linn has done as I know they have a few and I'd also love to hear what Naim has done as I haven't heard Naim gear in over 20 years.