Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hello all...I've been following this rather long thread too. As a long-time chaser of the audio grail I find myself, like so many of us, getting closer and closer but never "done". My 2 cents about ultimate 16/44 dacs is my Lampizator Big 6...it just does that so wonderfully well...With Duelunds and some good NOS's it's as natural [to me and my visiting guests] as I've ever imagined reproduced music can get...Full disclosure is I'm moving to a 7 because I'd like to visit DSD at some point, I guess?/ and I can never get enough of this stuff...plus my good buddy has a hoard of those DHT tubes that I'll go crazy with swapping out for months & years? to come. Also, FWIW: my local buddy has the Coincident CSL pre and really likes it in his system (it sound's really really good), and I have my TRL Dude w/ Duelunds and NOS tubes (feeding TRL amps) which I love love love so...Charles1dad summed it up nicely in his last paragraph about system synergy and personal tastes...But I think we all kinda new that already. Happy Lissn'n

Hello Tbg, Yes, in an ideal world personal auditioning in one's own system trumps all forms of verbal recommendations of course, but I think what keeps a lot of these threads alive is people being able to add their personal listening experience descriptors to a "What do you think about X" inquiry. Using terminology such as the 1980's vintage CJ amplifier is "a little fat/tubby in the bass with added ripeness in the mids" or that some brand of SS amp has a very "quick or incisive attack" or "razor sharp imaging" (pardon the old-school generalities) can be helpful in pointing people towards or away with particular makes/models. The fact that people here all listen...is far different than explaining to a blind-from-birth person why you prefer the color blue to red...
System synergy complicates things more, of course, but the sheer number of variables intrinsic to this hobby already add tremendous complications...as well as bring about "options" in personal taste...
Again, I think most of us are probably in agreement about the limitations of "Discussing Listening...".
Nevertheless these posts thrive under the common thread of our musical tastes and associated systems and equipment. Just 2 cents.