$895 PayPal FF and shipped with NOS tubes and the stock tubes.

JHC, Take a look at Mojo Audio DAC’s.  They certainly seem to check your requirements.  Made in New Mexico by Madman Ben.  My Mystique X ‘25 NC sounds so real and natural paired with a Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe or OpticalRendu.  Not sure of your budget but their line ranges from $3000 Demo to $12000.  A lot of review and forum noise out there to research.  Have fun with your journey.

NIce!  A “ Stand Up” F15 version of the ZROB.  I expect it sounds excellent and takes the F15’s to another level.  👏

I turn 65 this summer, and bought these restored Altec Valencia’s as a present to myself, for hitting this milestone.

A while back, I started watching the “Chicago Horn Guys” YouTube channel, and ended up falling deeply into that rabbit hole.

After listening to open baffles exclusively for a number of years, this vintage sound is a very nice contrast in sound. These things sound great across the board, and I’m very happy with the purchase. Are they better than my open baffles? Definitely not! Just different, and most enjoyable. But I’m running out of room for speaker storage

I won't be a real help but I will provide an answer to your initial question: I put a lot of thought into how my DAC integrates within my system. I ended up about fifteen years or so ago prferring (after a lot of pairings and trials and error) a transport and DAC combo from PS Audio, as I am a digital disc predominantly oriented listener--then and now I don't do files or stream. For the ten years or so I have been able to play cds and SACDs into my DAC from the matching transport, I've updated each of them with the company's latest (though financially couldn't do it for the most recent two components, though I am quite happy with what I have). I really like that the DAC either plays native DSD files from SACD, or converts PCM Redbook into DSD for playback; this is a key ingredient to the sound, and I found it to be the best I've heard that I could afford, and a great fit for the Decware components and speakers downstream. Also if I wish to I can even, by using the PS Audio NuWave Phono Converter, play back LPs via HDMI I2S into the DAC (did that for a while before I bought a 2 XLR into 1 XLR switcher), a further integration.

In my opinion sources are really really important in my system and I have concentrated on these with great sonic success in my systems; when they are well-integrated they can be truly satisfying.

For those of you who have purchased DACs or gone through testing recently, how much did you consider their integration into the rest of the system before testing? I ask because I am looking to upgrade from my Cambridge MX10 to a separate streamer and DAC.

I have to use wifi, and I'm trying to decide between something like the Benchmark DAC3 or an R2R or Tube DAC. I have heard the Benchmark and it sounds super clean and incredibly detailed. It was too much for my headphone set up. But going before a tube preamp and tube power amps (Decware or Allen Eaton) it might be perfect. On the other hand, I feel like an R2R or tube DAC would better integrate into the whole system.

I am also running into the problem where everything in my main system is made by small, USA based companies, which I really like at least conceptually. I have no problem with buying Chinese products and it seems like you really get a ton of features for the money, but I would love to find both a streamer and a DAC made by a Decware-like company that can compete with some of the Chinese-made products.

My thoughts now are to get an Eversolo streamer and pair it with a Benchmark DAC. But I am also looking at the Lindemann streamer, Geshelli, LTA, Musical Paradise, RME.

My intuition is to try and have the digital part of the setup be as clean and neutral as possible. Not sure if that is the right move.

Sorry, this is a bit of a ramble and about 10 questions and thoughts, only some of which might be connected...

Randy,

This looks like a fantastic upgrade option for those of us enjoying your wonderful F15 baffles. I hope folks get a chance to listen to the combo at Decfest 2026. And please remember folks just because it's being held at a castle it doesn't mean there will be a jousting tournament😂🤣.

HK

Well…it would be much more appropriate to make her look like Sarah. Just sayin’…

Fascinating!

Oops .....

A good friend just brought to my attention that I have a typo in the information provided above.

The Mundorf caps are "EVO" ..... not "PIO".
Too many acronyms for my old brain to keep track of.

I also forgot to provide a link to the AMT drivers for the DIY music lovers who would like to build something themselves ..... so here is the link.

This driver is certainly not the most extended high frequency driver available, as it rolls off around 18K. However, it is "musical", and robust, and does a good job of extending the frequency response of the F-15 driver, which rolls off pretty quickly at around 12K.

There is something special about the sound of a good AMT driver, IMO.

Happy listening,
Randy