MHDT Orchid or Audio Mirror/ pick one for me please

@abd1 I had a Directstream dac with the bridge 2 for two months. I strongly prefer the Audio mirror. 

That said, the DSD dac does something in it's signal processing that simply doesn't work for my ears. I had a Perfectwave for many years and twice tried to upgrade it to the DSD. Both times I sold the unit and went back to the pwd. Not sure if there's some phase issues or something that my speakers and I are particularly sensitive to or what, but it just doesn't work for me. Given all the positive experiences people report with it, I have to assume there's something special going on in my auditory system. 

Anyway, I truly adore my AMT3se and highly recommend it. It sounds so much more like real music to me than the psa units, and as I said above, I also loved my Perfectwave.

The AM is just so beautifully musical. Highly recommended.

@tonnesen The AM does not include a streaming input, so sq of streaming vs. cd will completely depend on the equipment that's providing input.  That said, the only thing I miss about my cd player (which was an exemplar Denon 2900 8 years ago), is going to the used music store.

@paulcreed Unfortunately I sold the exemplar and switched to streaming & computer audio in 2012, so I can't make any comparison. Every part of my system is different.

And the AM takes 6922s, so you're all set for tube rolling with it too. It has an output stage that can utilize 5977, 6N1P, 6DJ8, ECC88, 6922 and 6H23P tubes.  

I should probably mention that I was referring to a DS Sr as well...

And I'll second everything @snopro said above, but also add that it has a lovely holographic soundstage as well. Above all, it just sounds right.

I love my AMT3se and know of another member who did a direct shootout between an upgraded Orchid and the AMT3se. He chose the AM.

I chose mine over a Lampizator Amber 3, PS Audio Directstream, iFi DSD Pro, Matrix x-Sabre Pro, & Shiit Bifrost 2. All with extended auditions in my system except the Shiit which a friend brought over for me to try.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7983

And at least with the two week trial period, you can try running your exemplar direct and through the AM to test it out for yourself.

Do try a second source (e.g., a computer through USB) as well though, as the exemplar should hold it's general house sound, even when decoded by another dac. That'll let you figure out a bit more about whatever dac you're demoing

I just wanted to mention that it's clear that you can't go wrong with either of these dacs, owners seem to universally love both and I suspect they're more similar than different.

If you're feeling stuck, you either need to demo both and let your ears decide (AM at least gives you a free trial), or go with @twoch's advice and buy whichever one you think will make you feel satisfied and prevent the upgrade itch.

In the end that's why I got 6 dacs in house at the same time. The experience of trying many different competitors (and topologies) really made me feel much more settled with my final decision. That's another nice thing about using these old dac chips. Once you personally experience their superiority over new technology, it makes the constant feed of new ones less attractive (although I'd still love to hear a bricasti).