Sony HAP-Z1ES or NAD M51?

I checked out the Sony recently and came away impressed with features. All my tunes are currently burned to WAV and reside on a Mac Mini and drive, so transferring to the Sony would be pretty easy, if a bit time consuming at first.

I like the idea it can upgrade Redbook files. The app seemed cool, but it was a bit goofy using an IPad mini, which I blamed on the dealer's WiFi network.

I also use a Squeezebox, but with mods from Bolder Cable, who I think is no longer doing these upgrades. The mods were replacing the digital SPDIF outputs, and building a ridiculous power supply with Jensen caps and Blackgate parts. It was a $1200 upgrade and so far, it's been hard to beat (driving a Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista 21 tube DAC, also built like a brick outhouse). But not cost effective, and I couldn't recommend spending that kind of money today to upgrade an older unit.

I may have to borrow a Sony to see if I like it. Using a headphone system now, Woo Audio 6SE driving Audeze LCD-3 headphones.

Thanks Brownsfan. Now I just have to locate a local dealer.

Last night I received a Sophia Princess rectifier tube for the Woo Audio 6se headphone amp. It was a revelation, easily the most impressive upgrade I've done with this amp (including cables and power cords). I have to say that running with the Squeezebox/Tri-Vista setup, things were sounding just great. I also was able to control it with a nifty app on my phone.

So I'd have to demo one against my current setup to justify that it really surpasses what I have now.