Loved the Wadia 860, but don't think it is the best digital front end by any means.
The Bow Wizard is not in the same league as the Wadia or the Audio Aero Capitole. There is a bigger brother, the ZZ-8, which definitely beats the Wizard pants down. The ZZ-8 is more organic than the 860. Almost like analogue... If you don't like that kind of sound, the criticism could be that it can be a bit rolled off at the frequency extremes. However, the rolloff is very marginal - ZZ-8 delivers bass in spades,it is the high that was I am not totally convinced.
The Audio Aero Capitole is superb, IMHO, the best one box digital front end I have heard so far. I am only slightly concerned about the lack of a proven track record (as far as reliability is concerned) compared with the other better known names.
The BAT and Meridian, I have not listened to in detail.
Hope that helps.
The Bow Wizard is not in the same league as the Wadia or the Audio Aero Capitole. There is a bigger brother, the ZZ-8, which definitely beats the Wizard pants down. The ZZ-8 is more organic than the 860. Almost like analogue... If you don't like that kind of sound, the criticism could be that it can be a bit rolled off at the frequency extremes. However, the rolloff is very marginal - ZZ-8 delivers bass in spades,it is the high that was I am not totally convinced.
The Audio Aero Capitole is superb, IMHO, the best one box digital front end I have heard so far. I am only slightly concerned about the lack of a proven track record (as far as reliability is concerned) compared with the other better known names.
The BAT and Meridian, I have not listened to in detail.
Hope that helps.