Cool, I'm going to go catch up with your thread on those issues/projects.

Within this forum can't we get at least 2 more purchases so we can get this dac for $700?  If this is not a good deal and I should buy elsewhere please reply.

I'm pretty sure the Massdrop was the same, at $700.  

And Martindfletcher, $700 IS a good deal.  

B&H is at $799 today.

I doubt you will be disappointed, HK. Steve's inboard output stage with this unit and its full capabilities should be magic. I know it is, first hand, with my ZDSD with Redbook and for DSD Recordings; and my experience with having the NT-503/stock. I decided not to get into hi-rez** (I will never say never), so I returned my NT.
**except for my SDHC Lexar Platinum II, 8GB Cards....made recordings/stored in the very nice Decware 20th Anniversary Silver Case, Steve sent with the ZDSD.

I'm focusing on completing my NOS Tube collection, being impressed with and tube rolling in my ARC Line Stage FET/single 6922/Class A unit to ZMA. In conjunction with Input Tube Rolling in my ZMA (in which, I also run direct from ZDSD only). I was fortunate to find an ARC LS-2B MkII, in stellar condition.

Potentially, swinging the 6C33C Mono-blocks in 2018 or 19.....is my next great Decware Unit(s).

PS-I realized over time, recording MOST OF my Redbook CD's (1100+) to my SDHC's...is the way to go....and every bit as good as the majority of re-recorded Redbook Master's to Hi-Rez. No computer humping needed and it bares repeating, my Recordings are as good if not better in most cases. Think about it....and thank you Steve.

.....now granted, if I want to stream Tidal, etc.... I will revisit that in the future.

Hey, a while back, someone posted what Steve recommended for a XLR cable.  I remember they were pretty reasonably priced.  Can anyone give the link?

Norm reminded me of this recently, here is what Steve recommends:

https://bettercables.com/products/silver-serpent-balanced-xlr-audio-interconnect...

I'm not a fan of silver-plated copper, doesn't seem to gel in my system. I use VooDoo Cable XLRs but they are MUCH more expensive. I also use one 3M pair of WireWorld Oasis 7 because they were available in that length reasonably priced. Interesting geometry on those cables, and they sound fine. Nothing like the VooDoo but then neither was the price.

Myself I can get great results from silver and copper, just not silver-plated copper. My favorite interconnects have silver and copper conductors. . . ,

As a "jumper" between top and bottom binding posts of my HR-1s I used a short length of a cryo'd silver wire in cotton insulation. . . resulting in fantastic sound. I'm thinking of trying that out as speaker cable. .. we'll see if I'm brave enough in the near future to risk a few hundred dollars on that experiment.

Yes, I've been thinking of you lately as my system has gone through it's latest metamorphosis. . . because what is stunning about the ZTPRE to ZBIT pairing in my system is. . .improved bass. I think you would really dig the bass . . . Save up!

Which is what scared me away. .. the Styx held my system back for quite some time or so it seemed, I kept having an "etched" sound; when I switched speaker wire things got better. I've stayed away from silver-plated copper wire since  :o

The thing with me and my system is. . . silver isn't an issue the way that silver-plated copper IS. I can work with silver, and with copper, but there's a sound to silver-plated copper I can't integrate into my system.

My favorite cables have silver and copper conductors. . . and Ohno wire at that. That's the good stuff imo.

Good Lord, I hadn't realized it, but you're right, I don't remember reading about the silver-plating but there it is in the description (or current description.

When I look at the wire itself, I only see copper. Perhaps the silver-plating is new and mine are previous models, or perhaps it's "micro-plating" does not impart any silver to the naked eye?

Anyway it's a single strand wire which seems to make a difference and I've actually been considering that these cables are now the weakest link in my system and researching what to replace them with. Though they are indeed great cables.

WTF! Then I guess I'll just say that the other silver-plated speaker cables I've used (Zen Styx), and several silver-plated interconnects that I've used, have created an edgy sound for my system that I don't prefer.

Thanks for pointing that out to me. I guess I don't have an issue with "micro-stranding silver coating" (aided also perhaps by the very minimal insulation on these Mapleshades).