Tubegroover, I have read and enjoyed many of your posts, and also am partial to analog. However, six months ago I heard a Steve Huntley modified Wadia 860, and for the first time in my 25+ years of audio was forced to question the absolute superiority of analog to digits. I heard the 860 in Huntley's shop, driving Atmasphere monoblocks and Avalon speakers. Based on that experience, I purchased a Wadia 830 to replace my cheap and dirty JVC player, which was kept around for the rare CD worth owning for musical content alone, (ie., I couldn't find something comparable on LP.) After a month, I had Huntley mod the 830, and this effected the biggest improvement in a component in my system in recent memory (Linn LP12, ARC preamp, Luxman 3045 triode monoblocks--all highly modified, and Spendor speakers). Rather than bore you with the tired cliches, I would like to suggest that you contact Huntley via his website at www.greatnorthernsound.com, and discuss your situation directly. Steve is very knowledgable, having worked for Audio Research and Wadia, and is also a hell of a nice guy to talk to. You can get a good sense of what he's about just visiting his website. Best Wishes...
Best Digital Front End Period!
The question is What is the Best Front End Digital Period! Price no object BASED ONLY on what you, have personally listened to, not heard about. Also please give a brief description of your sonic impressions. Ideally you have listened to the piece in YOUR system but sometimes a product is sooooo good that it trancends performance of other products in an unfamiliar system. I have read many threads on specific products but if dough wasn't a criteria and you could own it based on what you've heard which one would you own?