I recently compared my Gen Va vs. the EVS Millennium II, a 24/96 upsampling DAC, for two weeks in my home big rig system. The EVS sounds more neutral than the Theta, with better overall resolution. But the Theta has much more slam in the bass, an attractive high frequency 'glaze' that adds air and zing to plucked strings, and slightly superior front-to-back depth. At one-fifth the retail of the Theta, the EVS is sonically competitive and I now use it in my bedroom system. But I'm keeping the Theta in the big rig because of better overall synergy.
I used no line stage in these comparisons. The DACs were compared at near-identical voltage output levels using custom fixed value in-line series-shunt Vishay attenuators (single ended for the EVS, balanced for the Theta).
Both were auditioned with MIT Digital Ref cable (SPDIF) from a Data III transport, with PS Audio power cords, and PS Audio P300 power plant set to multiwave SS1.
I used no line stage in these comparisons. The DACs were compared at near-identical voltage output levels using custom fixed value in-line series-shunt Vishay attenuators (single ended for the EVS, balanced for the Theta).
Both were auditioned with MIT Digital Ref cable (SPDIF) from a Data III transport, with PS Audio power cords, and PS Audio P300 power plant set to multiwave SS1.