Yesterday, I received -- and installed -- my build-to-order M21 as well as Bricasti's M19 SACD transport. These two components replaced a Wadi 8 CD transport (which I may, or may not, sell), a Theta Digital Compli SACD player, a Wadia 2000 DAC, and a Lumin T2 streamer/DAC. Like others, I seriously considered Playback Design's MPS-6, too.
Compared to what I had previously listened to in my home, the M21's [even] initial performance was utterly astounding; all aspects are simply better -- clarity, realsim, detail, soundstage depth, etc. are amazing. I have yet to compare the various DAC offerings and filters; these were the default settings. What I did not expect was the improvement the M19 provided to shiny discs. I have to say that the M19/M21 combination -- with the I2S connection between them -- gave real credence to the belief of many that CDs can still deliver a better performance than is obtainable from 44.1K via the Internet.
I have never spent so much money before on a source (or two sources together). Frankly, I was worried ahead of time that I would not be able to discern much difference from what I already owned. Was I ever wrong! To put this in perspective, one of my local high-end audio stores has on display a Berkely Audio Design, Luxman, Shunyata, and Magico system costing $221,000. This is my "reference standard"; up until now, my own system wasn't even close. But no longer -- if anything, with the addition of the two Bricastis, I believe that my updated system surpasses what I was able to hear in that store.
