Auricle Audio Design or Atlas Opus digital coax??

If you want to hear the superbly revealing and musical
Auricle Audio Design "Encore!" Signature Digital IC
in a longer length,
why not ask Joe Mazzaglia to build it for you?
On his website it requests "please email for longer cables."

Rcduck7,
Post your decision and what you hear when you install your new digital IC.
If you speak with the designer, Joe Mazzaglia, he can tell you about the results replacing other brands with Auricle's best.
The Atlas Opus may not have enough sales in the US to ever find someone who has directly compared your two finalists.
I can tell you that in my systems with Auricle everything in a recording is revealed letting the great recordings deliver their full audio and musical thrill.
Best luck making your pick.

Rcduck7,
Although I do wish more than one of Joe's satisfied customers would comment, let me be a "one man band" stating that outstanding "timing and rhythm" or the overused reviewer abbreviation "PRAT" ( ?pace, rhythm, attack, timing) is certainly applicable to more than one digital IC brand. Auricle does elicit the WOW response in those listening to their own familiar recordings in my systems.
In the digital cable sales arena it is almost unheard of to have a reviewer connecting two pieces of equipment already owned by any one of us mere mortal audiophiles - and you are not there to listen and simply judge for yourself.
Spending good money without an airtight guarantee of owning the best for our specific system components is a fact of life for most of us.
Yet, you can count on owning a wonderful performer in other people's systems based on the preferences of others.
Then you have a high probability that it works beautifully in your own system(s).
Auricle is at work in two of my systems, which may either be one or two votes in its favor :>)
I still believe it can be fun and informative to speak directly to the person who actually designs and manufactures a product, because the character, taste, and persistence of the designer affects what he chooses to sell as his best effort at a given point in time.
By the way, if you are willing to pay for unique "regardless of price" customized one-of-a kind digital IC tell that to Joe at Auricle. He can make it for you.

When the Auricle Audio Design is initially inserted into your system you will notice how much more musical information is already present in each CD, only you didn't hear it all before. This comes along with the "PRAT" that gives a more lifelike dynamic quality to the music.
What transport and DAC are you about to connect together when the new digital IC arrives?
Happy to hear you got a good deal.

The system I listen to the most for CD is antique, but effective.
CD Source is JVC XL-Z1050 upgraded by an engineer for use as transport. Machina Dynamica "Code Turquoise" Green CD tray covering. Bedini Ultra De-Magnetizer spin for CD before playing. Herbie's Audio Lab Super Black Hole CD Mat.
Digital output signal processed through an interface box called the Genesis Digital Lens. Digital output from the Lens next goes to
one of the first-ever tube output DAC's which were then an innovation over twenty years ago from the Anodyne brand of Scott Nixon. Tubes were chosen by "tube rolling" until it sounded best to my ears
The system uses two unique custom digital interconnects from Joe Mazzaglia of Auricle Audio Design. These are painstakingly created to beat his over-the-counter usual wonderful offerings. So, I guess I can call them super wonderful.
Next, from the DAC tube output stage the analog signal travels via Joe's unique custom analog IC's on to a rare heavy industrial strength and appearance preamp with the famous Acoustat logo on the front, but no model name.
I don't recall the original name of this very limited edition unit. Its exterior is ugly, but the phono preamp section is incredible - that's where my audio heart resides. The line stage amp is excellent, too. I bought this on Audiogon and never have seen another just like it.
I should mention it was Joe's best digital and analog IC's of regular construction which first hooked me on his abilities to really optimize signal transfer, without exorbitant pricing. I still use these original regular editions elsewhere.
The amp is one from an evolutionary series made by Cary Audio; mine is the SLA 70 Sig (output is only EL34 )with all tubes selected after tube rolling.
My speaker wire is Reality Cable. Another outstanding boutique manufacturer.
Speakers in this system are from an evolutionary series by talented designer Philip R. Clements (now of Solusaudio.com), with planar ribbon tweeter and patented variation on transmission line bass for the Clements RT-7 floor stander with special original issue stands.
I use Herbie's Audio Lab "Big Fat Black Dots" as footers.
Incidentally, I listened for a very long time to your speakers at a manufacturer demonstration some years ago, and your speakers sounded excellent enough for me to purchase, except too many speakers owned already.
Lastly, I have placed two Clever Little Clocks from Machina Dynamica in this listening room for many years with audible improvements. These devices fall under the category of "guilty pleasure" because of potential for negative reaction from Audiogoners who have never tried them.

From your original 4-26-11 post,
did you follow your plan to use the
Auricle Audio Design Encore Signature Digital IC
unlabeled "sending end" for connecting the MHZS transport (source) to the serial numbered "receiving end" of IC inserted into the Metrum Quad DAC input (processor receiving the digital signal)?