I pair x9000 with the TEAC UD-701, which is Esoteric's (the parent company) less-insanely-priced version of N-05XD. This pairing sounds best when using DSD (the real kind, the converted kind, the Audirvana kind...use what's available). Never been a blacker background:) Over PCM, the x9000's...

Two words: futures contract. :)

Meanwhile, Edifier plots from above... Small companies digging themselves out of bankruptcy tend to do what their umbrella saviours signal them to do, no matter how much freedom they claim to have.

I was not aware that 007mki came in that colour. Aren't all the mkis brown, not black?

...wouldn't doing so drown an attempt at actual discussion with groupspeak? I appreciate when forum posters express reasonably articulate contrarian views about components which may or may not synergise with the main product-of-discussion. If every hifi component were discussed in a separate...

We're splitting hairs at this particular mountain peak (I still love Carbon with x9000, in spite of them having "bad" synergy), but I believe the word you're searching for is "Megatron" :)

Hope and confidence that you'll find a solution soon, you deserve it.

The plot thickens...

This, for so many reasons. Earlier today I was casually listening to x9000 on a Carbon (terrible synergy, some would say) with a decent-but-not-millionaire-level Magni phono and a 30-year-old Thorens...Maybe very focused AB testing would change my mind, but I thought, "Damn this sounds so good...

At attention and taking notes! Back later...

I mean... When I tested the Holo May, "sounds like vinyl" was the central argument of the sales rep, to the extent that I was advised to use no aspect of the DAC except the NOS filter.

That's a fair point. I tried a Holo May early in my "journey" and wasn't impressed, TBH. Vinyl-like without sounding like vinyl. I switched to Delta Sigma in search of utmost precision. But every note seems .00001 seconds too short. I have a friend with a Gustard, and he likes to trade stuff...

Absolutely agree about sounds benefits and sound pains. I thought I would be annoyed by the hassle, but I find that I enjoy the ritual. On that note, I am concerned that my wife and I are drawn to warm distortion (part of the ritual) more than better SQ, which kind of defeats the purpose of...

Slightly off topic but I'm curious: how many forum members use their Stax/estats with vinyl? How much of the time? Under specific music situations? I've only used my hp with digital sources. But my stereo, which was intended to be the definition of affordable digital convenience (cough cough...

Up for sale is a lightly-used KGSShv Carbon. I am the first owner (bought summer 2022). I have used the amp for 200 hours, max. R27 pot. Already built to be easily changed from 115v to 220v. The Carbon is in perfect working condition and is equal to all recent Carbon builds. There are scratches...