DAC 3-4k range

Thanks for all the great input. After considering the options, I've decided to go with an upgrade in the AN line to the 4.1.

There seem to be a lot of great sounding DACs with high end specs and interesting approaches out there but in the end, I already know how much I greatly appreciate the AN sonics and build quality, so it just makes sense to me to stick with them at least for now.

" Due respect, but it's very easy to like what you have right now. Before dropping a lot more cash on an upgrade into the same line (which may very well turn out to be the right path) it would be a great opportunity to hear what else is out there. Everything sounds great, but you don't know how great until you hear the competition. If you just take the easy route you'll always be asking yourself... "

Really excellent point. I've given this a decent amount of thought, but given that there are really no high end dealers nearby it's difficult to audition in person, research is about all I have to go on.

I've heard a few in my own system over the years and a few more in others' systems, but none I can remember in the same price range. A few close but none quite as high end. Nothing I've heard has even really come close to the AN.

In the end I guess I'm choosing to take the conservative route since, based on the obstacles I'm facing auditioning competitors and somewhat that what I've heard hasn't come close to challenging what I know. I have at least spent time reading up on the units suggested here and some are quite interesting but nothing is overwhelmingly compelling me to risk the money to try them out first. At some point if finances or circumstances allow I would certainly like to audition some of the ones suggested.

The Berkely, Lamp, and ARC would all be high on the list to try. Possibly the AMR.

A DAC with built in volume control could be nice, since my next logical upgrade may be a separate amp but a significant obstacle to that is the need for an expensive pre.

Well, I have the unit being built right now. I'll be either trading in the 2.1 unless I can sell it within the next week or so.

I find that opportunity always presents itself somehow so I suspect I'll have opportunity to audition some of those other units in my system at some point. In the meantime I feel very comfortable with the decision. I sit here listening to Jazz at the Pawshop on the 2.1 and am in heaven, I can't imagine what the 4.1 will sound like. And we've (the builder and I) decided to through in a variety of upgrades that start putting it in AN UK high end models territory. I'm really excited.

(And thanks again to everyone for the really great input, both technical and philosophical. Very much appreciated.)