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Nope. His name is Mike Lavigne, or at least that's the name he uses over at AVS Forum.

From what I've read of, by, and about Mr. Gates, his audio system probably has more cool features then you could shake a stick at -- but sounds awful.

I'd throw in another word for the Ack! dAck!. I've had one for several months now and REALLY like it. It lacks a lot of background noise and digital edge I've heard in previous digital pieces I have owned. Very pure, fluid, correct, natural sounding. You mentioned the pace and timing thing with vinyl. This is one strong suit of the dAck! If you read about the design philosophy behind the dAck!, based on the Kusunoki way of thinking and the non OS - filterless designs, you'll see pace and timing is very much a sonic priorty.

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Haven't heard SME. Do you know if it sounds like LP12?

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You're welcome Chris!

Enjoy your DAC2 while I enjoy Shigaraki!

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Jeez, you guys, get a room!

Just to clarify, I'm not necessarily looking for a DAC that will sound like a Linn table... just something that has those qualities that analog playback offers. I know it may not be possible to compete without spending big money... But I'm looking into getting a Scott Nixon TubeDAC kit.. I emailed him from his site, but I understand it maybe 2 months before he replies..

I remember seeing a direct comparison between the Tube DacKit and dack! - the reviewer enjoyed both but to his tastes the dack! was a slightly better unit. Both look like excellent choices, though the dack! is supposed to be more polite. So ymmv. Either of those looks like they'd be a great choice for what you're looking for, and I'm also looking at buying one of the two as my next DAC.

I'll be watching this thread with interest. ^_^

Audio Logic 24MXL or the Audio Aero Prima 24/192.

Here's a link to that shootout which was at Audio Circle:

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...highlight=dack

Very interesting review. Again, I like my dAck! very much, very true and correct sounding to me. I definitely would like to hear the SN Tube Dac one day. I think one major strong suit over the SN DAC is the Ack's battery power supply which produces a deadly jet black background and pulls a lot of the edge and grunge out of the sonics. I actually have mine at Ack! right now getting the latest updates to the circuit, output caps and other little tweaks. Have a pair of his silver analog IC's and BNC digital cable coming too. My new dAck! will now have BNC input.

Hey Sean, that post on AC raises some comments I've heard before:

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Which is one reason I think the regular one would be better in my system, things are a little too upfront as it is.

The dAck sounds interesting though, but I don't think I would shell out the extra money without auditioning it first. I'm also looking forward to finding out what this tube business is all about anyway...

So maybe in a couple months when Scott sends me one I'll be able to comment further.

That's an interesting quote and your inference about AC. From what I have learned from power cords, power conditioners, battery power and such is what exactly AC does to the signal and the sound you get from reduced AC influences on the signal. I think the edge, tense-ness, slightly tipped up brightness people hear is often a byproduct of the AC and a lot of people actually like it! I would bet you 7 out of 10 people would pick some other high end digital source over the dAck! in a quick A/B comparison in a showroom. Why? The treble of the dAck! is so clean and correct that to many standing in a showroom wanting to be wowed by shock and awe, and the fireworks of high end audio with sizzling highs and boombastic bass, they might feel a bit bored upon quick listen. But given time, and if listening to music is the priority over analyzing the gear, somethng like the dAck! (due in part to it's lack of AC grunge) would gain more share of those 10 people. But if you are after a more analog sounding source then you would have a mindset to appreciate the dAck!, the battery power only supports the very analog and correct sound it exhibits.

When you get the new SN Tube DAC let us know how it sounds!