Here is some perspective - when I originally started the Gustard U12 thread - I received the same -'it sucks' 'you're just hyping it' comments - but as folks actually tried it and liked it better then what they had - it got a strong following.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip
Then I came on this Melodious MX-U8 and it was better for me - so I posted about it. The Gustard U12 lovers went berserk (well a few - esp the ones who had modded it), more derision and flames, but again for those who tried it many liked it. Stereotimes even wrote about the thread:
http://www.stereotimes.com/post/yellowtec-puc2-lite-usb-converter/
Then after having some reliability issues with the Melodious - the Breeze came along!
Now folks were really getting pissed at me - 'now you're hyping something else' But sorry I call it as I see it.
Once again a few tried it and loved it! Even a few of my most severe critics - some even modding theirs. It got a cult following, and still does.
Along came the DIYinHK DXIO Pro3a - and I tried it - best yet! And no need for heroic clock mods - as it already had the NDK SD clocks.
And now the wash, rinse, repeat process began again. Tried the PUC2 Lite and it was a close draw - as I reported. More folks up in arms.
But I stuck to my guns - my ears don't lie. Trying to put all this in some kind of ranking and order I listed what I had heard and ranked them. The flame attacks became almost unbearable - talk about it just being audio! Here I was spending my time and money to try all these different devices and mods and getting abused for it! But I persevered...
Well that thread kind of hit a wall and became almost exclusively a Intona thread (FredA and Bummer) - even though there already was an Intona thread (not many folks interested) so these folks hijacked the Gustard thread. I left it - nothing much new in XMOS being discussed. It had over 300,000 views when it was shut down.
But my search was not over - never will be. I came across the XU208 and the F-1 and I began this thread. And I was excited - it blew all others before out of the water! Including the PUC2 Lite and the Pro3a.
But of course the skepticism and derision continued...but as before a few tried it and loved it. So that is where we are today...and it continues:
Here are my rankings and ratings and I'm sticking to them:
Here would be my current ratings and rankings (the numbers are just a relative number - like when you see charts with 1990 dollars - or what ever reference point is chosen - they are not percentages). The Breeze Audio (Talema) DU-U8 = 100
Here would be my current ranking and ratings obviously these are my subjective ratings YMMV - and yes I have owned all these for an extended period of time:
Singxer F-1 DC30W/Cerious/Recovery/DCi/Pur2/GB Lan 190 $180+$150+$250 +$200+$100+$100+$479
Singxer F-1 DC30W/Cerious/Recovery/DCiPur/ iPur2 170 $180 +$150 +$250 +$200 +$100 + $100
PUC2 Lite TeraDak DC30W/Cerious/Regen 135 $481 + $150 + $250 + Regen $175
DXIO Silver/TeraDak DC-30W/Cerious 130 $180 + $150 + $250
Singxer X-1 DC30W/Cerious/Recovery/DCiPur/iPur2 125 $59 + $250 +Recovery $200 + iPur2 $100
PUC2 Lite - USB power 110 $481
Breeze/Cerious Graph/WBT RCA Nexgen 109 Du modded $208 + CT GE $250
Breeze DU-U8 with Cerious Graphene 108 DU $168 + CT GE $250
Breeze DU-U8 (Talema version) 100 $168
Breeze DU-U8 (BingZi version) 95 $148
Hydra Z with LPS 92 Z $700 + $150 TeraDak DC30W
Melodious MX-U8 (upgraded caps) 85 $260
Melodious MX-U8 (stock) 81 $247
Gustard U12 (upgraded caps) 76 $175
Gustard U12 stock 72 $160
iDAC DAC2 (used as a DDC) 65 $479
Musiland USB3.0 US Dragon 65 $165
M2Tech EVO with LPS 60 EVO $600 + Acopian LPS $280
Audiophileo 2 USB Power 50 $495
M2Tech Hiface 40 $149
Now as I have said before any of these newcomers that sound better - do not suddenly make the previous favorites sound worse. They continue to sound just as good, even when something better comes along. So I am not recommending anyone purchase any of these or anything I post about - just reporting what my experienced ears hear.
So we push forward despite all...
Cheers!
PS On request I've added approx prices when new.