Hi everyone, thank you for the kind words. I would just like to caution everyone to not put too much stock into one individuals personal choice. Just last week I loaned out 4 DAC's to a local client in Tampa and he chose the Ayre QX-5 Twenty in his system. The Roon endpoint and the overall relaxed "just right" sonics were what appealed to him. About a month ago, another chose the Chord DAVE. And as others have said, the Berkeley REF2 is also excellent (albeit more than double the price of the Ayre and others). There are so many great digital products on the market and it all comes down to personal preference, music tastes, system synergy, etc. I learned a lot time ago not to guess what I think people might like. Ultimately, keep an open mind, listen and decide for yourself. If any of you are in the Sarasota/Tampa area, I would welcome you for a visit to my store to meet and listen.
Chord Dave or Ayre QX5 Twenty DAC???
Down to two choices in DAC's, the Chord Dave or the Ayre QX-5 Twenty. Comes down to best sound or versatility and cost. Speakers are Wilson Audio Sasha's and amp is T+A 2500R. Love the versatility of the Ayre but the sound of the Chord Dave is phenomenal, not sure if the Ayre could compare. Not sure if the Chord would still sound as good without spending mass amounts on a power regenerator and power cable.