How can we have missed this opportunity?

You people's sarcasm detectors aren't working. Replace the batteries

@retiredaudioguy in your favor you did start the post "to quote " nice equipment 

@retiredaudioguy 

I get it.  Thanks for sharing.

Reminds me of a comment I read on a different topic:

"It reads like someone swallowed a thesaurus, and had violent, uncontrollable diarrhea."

This is 😁. Keep up the humor it's well documented in medicine that humor helps the immune system.

It is actually interesting that a DAC exists at this price point.  It is also interesting how the cost of pretty good DACs has come down with (e.g.) Wiim and Schiit for a few hundred dollars bettering multi-thousand dollar gear from the '90s.

30 years ago I heard some horrid digital stuff, from companies whose amplifiers were excellent.  No spatial sense, glaring, tiring, grainy highs and $5,000+.  Computing power, plus ready the availability of high precision, high stability OCXO components have transformed digital sound.  It is possible we are living in a Golden Age of high end equipment.  With the increase of wealth among the Chinese I suspect we shall be seeing really first rate equipment and components.  As an example, I replaced the NOS RCA black plate 6SN7s in my amp with LinLai Sapphires and found that the warmth and liquidity were still there but with a better sense of space - like combining the best of a 2A3 and 300B.  I do want to try Sophia 300Bs - designed in the US, made in China.

Apologies for wandering off topic.