Simaudio or luxman dac?

My first receiver was a Luxman and my first Integrated amp was the Luxman L530 - a superb class A/B amp. I had them both for many years

However....I now own a Simaudio Moon phono stage and I am a convert.

Faced with your choice I would go with the Simaudio....
- They have a nice aesthetic design
- No expense spared on the circuit design and components
- Very high quality construction
- and they sound amazing

Luxman is very good in all the above categories also, but if you peer inside they are not quite as ’clean" - lots of wires that can lead to noise , whereasthe  Simaudio appears to be more "crafted"

My current amp is a Naim 5i - but if I ever upgrade - Simaudio all the way, no doubt about it.

And they are made in Canada !!!

When I owned Luxman the brand was big in Canada - they were all about quality - then they changed their "philosophy" and went mass-market. Now they can only be found in a few select audio stores

Simaudio has made a name for itself - quality audio components - I don’t think that will change any time soon.

As for the price? - at these prices the audible differences are very small - but, let your ears be the judge and don’t let the price factor into the equation.

If you end up with the Simaudio - you’ll have an additional $2800 to play with on another part of your system :-)

My Simaudio Moon phono stage is an exceptionally quiet performer, and you can bet most of what they learned in the design of their phono stages has been applied in their DAC's.

Regards...

I own Sim digital gear- no complaints. Probably the best all in one CD player I ever heard was the 650D

Wow, okay, love the detailed difference between the lux and sim. I don't know, I just have this impression that the luxman are really good at amps, but they just aren't the company one thinks about when it comes to digital. Impressive their dac costs $5000, but your experience is it has a smooth veiled sound. Can you elaborate? I mean, does the simaudio have a more digitized, processed sound and the luxman more like analog...or am I way off base?

Price tag should never be a determining factor, Especially with Luxman- in Japan the DA-06 is less than 1/2 the price it costs in the US. Somehow that trip across the pacific boosts the price over 100% and isn't that impressive? 

I have a D05u and a D06, both CD/SACD players, and could not think of wanting more.  In the end I suggest either would satisfy you, once you have it home and play it and listen to music rather than anything else.  There is no "best" anything, never was, never will be.  I think.  Just get one or the other and revel in the quality and the sound and the joy it will bring you.