Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Still need to get that hard drive and drive to rip my CD;s, but listening to all the great music on my server through this OSDE is blowing my mind. I don't even have my Vandy Quatro's yet. This is all through the Treo and Ayre AX7e (waiting on my AX5/20 to get here in a few weeks) and WOW>.. This is nearly the best I've ever heard for a DAC. I recently heard the DCS stack and it was special and also the Bricasi DAC with all Tidal gear. I didn't know the other components, but I'd put my OSDE up against both of them and it won't embarrass itself. When I had the AX5 in my system it took it to levels beyond which means that I haven't heard the best from the DAC yet. It just keeps getting things right and I want to thank Steve for making this unit and supporting it like he does. I'm a convert guys. I never was going to buy from a small maker, but I'm glad I did and I hope that he is training someone to take over from him eventually. Genius is a word I'd use. I think I have auditioned nearly every DAC that's been talked about in this thread as well as others, so I think I have a decent reference. Thanks again to Matt who started this thread as I'd never have heard about Empirical otherwise.

The ODSE is much better through Empirical Final drive transformers direct to the amp. The effect is not subtle. When compared to EMM Labs DAC2x with Allnic L3000, it is as if wool blankets wrapped three layers thick were removed from the speakers. The clarity was better, by a wide margin than using High Fidelity Ultimate Reference cables that cost $$$ used. In my experience, a preamp that cost 22K would provide added value but the value is not worth the price.

It may be better, however I run an integrated so I can't go without the preamp.

Mr. Paul,
How did you decide on the CAD USB cable? I have been looking at that very cable for a short run from my Antipodes DX to the Metrum Pavane. Have you heard the CAD USB cable with other DACs? Any feedback on that cable and how it compares to others would be appreciated.

Mitch2,

I decided on the CAD USB cable because Scott (Mr. CAD) also makes a high end DAC. To me that differentiated him from the other cable makers. He has skin in the game. A friend of mine is in the process of breaking in a CAD USB cable. He is going from a Mac mini to a pair of Devialet 400s to Vivid Audio G-2 speakers. I hope to hear his system in the next week or so. I did talk to him a few days ago and he was sounding very positive about the cable. I have a new DAC on order and hope to have it by the end of the month. I will share my findings once I have some runtime on the system. I did reinsert my original USB cable (Wywire Litespeed - no longer made) after I had 500 hours on the CAD. It was not a difficult decision to keep the CAD.