Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

I do feel that there’s an overemphasis placed on speakers in audiophile threads/discussions at times. Obvious each link of the audio chain matters. If I had to choose one or the other, I’d select great electronics with "good" speakers rather than good electronics with "great" speakers. This puts me in a minority position but it’s based on many listening experiences.

Charles, +1.  Add me to your member count for this 'minority' position. : )

Ctsooner, You re in sync, no worries. My comment regarding the Ayre QX5-20 and Lampizator Atlantic comparison actually isn’t about determining which is better. That is pure subjectivity and taste oriented. My curiosity revolves around their very contrasting design (topological and circuitry)and approach and how this would play out in reproducing music. Each would have individual areas of strength but it’s their "overall presentation" that I’d find fascinating to hear side by side.
Charles

Guys I just realized that this thread is 4 years old and has almost 4k posts!  That's just crazy and fun to say the least.  Heard a lot of DAC's this weekend at Cam Jam.  Wasn't impressed with most of them to be very frank.  I felt very let down. There were a couple that were very nice, but you can tell that so many DAC's in the 2-8k range are not great.  There are many that are of course, but overall (in show conditions though), I felt let down by so many of them.  I was surprised by what IEM and headphone companies were using to showcase their top gear.  The Cayin stuff was really fun.  Not 'the best DAC', but we often digress in the thread and let it meander a bit.  I just thought I'd share that so many of the DAC's in this thread are outstanding values at various price points. 

I spent a lot of time on Sunday at the Schitt table.  I know I'll get flamed for this, but I really felt let down. I heard their top offerings in the most recent form I'm assuming and wasn't impressed.  I had borrowed aChord 2 to walk around with (well, roll around. Those who know me realize I can't walk by myself anymore, lol and I also sit a TON).  That smoked the Yggy with that big amp they had.  My own AK380cu DAP was more musical with more micro and macro detail.  Maybe it's just different tastes for everyone type of thing.  I spoke with a few close friends who are reviewers for headphones and IEM's and they don't know the hype, but didn't love the products, so I know it's not just me.

The real point is that I"m not disparaging anything, but again, it really made a huge statement that I'm blessed to have found this thread to sift through the chaff that is out here in the digital world.  Digital is harder to pull off than analog I feel.  Guys like Steve and the Lampi guy are in another class.  I also feel it takes some of the larger companies who have R&D budgets and economy of scale to pull off great digital for say under 2k (Ayre) or the MSB's of the world etc...  Some companies only do digital adn they too get it right....Aurender and some others.  It really hit home for me, what a great designer Steve is as his DAC, and I'm sure his soon to be released headphone amp are mind boggling.