To DDC or not to DDC. That is the question.

@joeycastillo Installing Gaya between Aurender and Venus made a significant improvement in my case. The only setting up was configurating I2S on Gaya which could not have been easier.

Ok you guys have hit on my issue which is upgraditis in my digital streaming front end. I appreciate all the input! Lots to think about and weigh... Oh and thank you for reminding me about my CDs that have pretty much languished for years. I should haul them out and see what they sound like through my Sony SCD XA5400ES with the Merason as DAC.

I am actually looking into the DAC2 upgrade, or possibly Merason's new Mountain DAC that I would use to replace both the DAC 1 MkII and the Helene. 

@mitch2, if you do try out either the DAC2 or the Mountain, I hope you will find the time to write up your impressions on here; be fascinating to see if the Mountain in particular can surpass the Helene.

@maprik get a few of your favorite CDs and try the sony as a stand alone player and as a transport with your DAC. Let us know. 

@audphile1 I will try this tonight and report back.