PS Audio Direct Stream

Ozzy,
I wish you a better outcome than what " hope and change " has yielded.
Good Luck,
Charles,

+1French fries regarding the varying quality of the actual CD/SACD. When mastered and produced with a high level of care they can sound quite wonderful and engaging.
Charles,

Matt,
I would feel very comfortable comparing the Lampizator Big 6 against the MSB, DCS and Esoteric " upper tier" DACs based on music reproduction criteria as opposed to a "hifi" check list. It will depend on what you're looking for. Your impressions will be interesting to read.
Charles,

+2 Fsmithjack. A "high quality" preamp in most systems will sound better than a direct source to amplifier IMO. As always, to each their own.

Sabai,
My system is posted on this site, and I don't use the Data Stream DAC.
My comment was a general observation based on hearing numerous audio systems over the years. If direct source to amplifier sounds better to you then that's the right way to go. It just hasn't been true in my listening encounters.

Sabai,
This new firmware must really quite special, as you were very fond of the NAD M51 DAC.