is ayre qb-9 dac better than cx7e mp?

i wouldn't put too much time into his responses, almost every DAC thread has his name on it mentioning the same LINN DAC's as significantly better than any other. I think he's vested somehow...either dealer, importer, or employee.

Either way it doesn't really matter and detracts from the thread of comparing the qb9 to the c7xe.

I have not heard the c7xe but have had the qb9 in my system at one point. I'm definitiely partial to computer based front ends now so on connection options only i would choose the qb9 over the c7xe. I believe shy of the dx5 though the qb9 should employ the best Ayre has in their lineup.

Hfisher3380, the power supplies are different in the DX5 i believe (bigger) so you may get just an ounce more of the Ayre magic. I've since moved on to other front ends & DAC's as the QB9 while sounding great in other systems I had heard didn't sound great in mine. But those systems where it did sound good, it sounded very nice. I haven't heard a Linn DS but have heard Linn front ends before and they were good but nothing to say OMG about.