Ayre QB9 Dac . Upgrade to the new QB20. Vs competition In the $4-5k range or less

I have been told by someone that I trust that the Twenty version of the QB-9 is as good as the QX-5.. he owns both.  I am due to have mine upgraded in about 2 weeks and will report back.

I got the upgraded QB 9's, but have yet to install them.
FWIW,
I own the Ayre Codex, and the Schiit Yggy and Gungnir were just about the same with regards to sound reproduction. With the Yggy coming a close second.
I only bought the QB-9's due to Ayre saying the Twenty upgrade were a significant upgrade. (My Codex was sent in for repair, at the time).
Thanks for reminding me to hook the QB-9 up.😀
Bob

sorry for a minor threadjack, but i have a quick question...

the qb9 is USB input only, yes?  i have a codex, really like it... but i don't use usb as input (have streamer not computer doing the streaming)... would like to hear ayre's evolution of their DAC's but i can't use the qb9 (upgraded or not) if it is USB digital input only...  

thx

@jjss49 .
Yup, only USB.
I should ask them why they didn't include optical.
The small size of the Codex makes it a challenge to plug in multiple cords, especially when AQ makes the hardware so big.
Bob

I got to hear at our audio jumble 
the Ayre QB20 
and the Schiit Yggsdrasil analog2,gen5 with New proprietary unison Usb board , both had the latest Synergistic orange fuse
i heard the The New usb Board 
windows 20 a must, mac, or lynix
is. Fine . Noticably cleaner much better then Xmos which does other all in ones. Both dacs were on for 5-6 days straight both were excellent , I thought the latest Ygg
a bit more natural and fleshed out 
the Ayre had slightly fuller midbass 

@audioman58 ,
I think you are referring to the QB9 with Twenty upgrade.
And, I think you meant Windows 10?
Correct?
Thanks for the review of the shootout.
I have deep respect for Schiit and their products, and am a bit surprised the upgraded QB-9 is still very close to the upgraded Yggy.
I found the Yggy very close to the Codex.
Bob

I have not heard the AyreCodex 

@audioman58 

Thinking putting an Orange SR fuse in my Yggy.  What value and size fuse did you install?

Since  thestock fuse can vary 20% 
iput in a 1.25 amp slow blow.Inth3 yggs

docknow I put in the new unison usb card 2 x it would not work
i already have a Jcat femtocard inmy computer for usb withalinear power supply to it, the unison usb card , when they come out with a
analog 3 then maybe I will get it the orange fuse made a Big sonic jump in musicality vs the stock fuse !!

For the record ,the holo springs  top May edition 2 Box   R2R dac
$4995 great, non better at under $5k just do a search ..
under $3k no brainer Denafrips Venus R2R dac ,under $2k Denafrips pontus 2.  My friend has the Holo springs May. Dac 
I am currently saving for that. I had the very good pontus mk2 dac,
I bought the black ice Audio wifi dac mi use ethernet cable it has tubes, BB dac, and I totally modded it vh Audio Odam caps WBT connectors Furutech IEC,neotech -0 crystal copper ,bypassed the volume control excellent dac now.