Audio Note DAC 5

The 30-50K question that comes to my mind, is it better sounding than an APL NWO 2.5T player for less $$.

I have never heard DAC 5,but i own DAC 2 Signature.It retails for about 4000$.I also did some tube rolling and got much better performance.I sincerely can't see how much more improvement can one make in DAC compared to this one.I have no doubt that DAC 5 is much better,but i can't see in which areas they made the progress that much.I don't think it's worth the extra money (46k).And also,if you spend 50k on DAC5,what will you do when DAC 6 comes out?You gotta sell 5 and buy 6.And so on.It becomes more like a PC market this way,and less a true value.
But i agree it all comes down to time.This is what we get,and you have one shot to make the most of it.If someone gets that kind of enjoyment,than 50k should not be too much.Of course if you have that kind of cash.
It's better to buy DAC 5 than spend 50k on hooker costing 10k/a night.At least in my book.

"It's better to buy DAC 5 than spend 50k on hooker costing 10k/a night.At least in my book."

Audiobb, You have a sensible book, however, I suspect that many people who buy "best of class" or maybe I should say "most expensive of class" luxury items, aren't making that choice. Demonstrating their success through the acqusition of these trinkets seems to be a sport to some of the wealthy elite. The value of money is not static, it's active.
The gent in your illustration is probably boasting about his 50k toy to his 10k hooker.

Phaelon,I guess you're right.It's also probably o proof of buying power.If i have it,it means i can easily afford it.

I have a DAC 4.1x Balanced Signature, the model right below the 5. It was easily worth the money, at least to me. The sound is superb, and it's not ever going to be a candidate for an upgrade.

As with any gear at this level, if you have the disposable income and the sound is to your taste then it's worth the money. If the answer to either of those criteria is "No", then it's not.

I have never heard a digital component that gives me the satisfaction of the heavy-hitting AN DACs, but in a recent thread on "Reference Quality DACs" it became abundantly clear that others have different sonic and musical priorities that would knock AN out of the running for them.