Ayre DAC vs Auralic vs Metrum vs Bel Canto

The conclusion that the Ayre QB-9 is less musical is ... odd.

An Ayre QB-9 was used in an all Ayre, solid state system driving SF Cremonas versus the Metrum being used in an all Shindo system, lush beautiful tube gear driving Devore Gibbon 9s.

The disclaimer is made that this is not an apples to apples comparison. No kidding, it's about as far from apples to apples as you can get. This is like comparing a Rolls Royce on one day to a Ferrari on another and saying the Ferrari is faster but the Rolls is more luxurious, and wondering, "Huh. Could it be the shoes I was wearing?"

I've had both the Ayre and Metrum in my system. The same system, in my room. I found the Metrum more clinical and the Ayre more musical, but neither was as resolving or as musical as the PS Audio PerfectWave DAC.

I would not forget to audition the PS Audio Perfect Wave II DAC. I have not heard the other DACs mentioned, but I know first hand that is dynamic, musical, without a hint of fatigue. Several reviews have compared t to the Ayre and Linn and it more than held it's own at less than half the price
( even less if you purchase on Audiogon). One can add the Bridge as well for a server system or just use the USB input. It and the Ayre arehand crafted in the USA. I'm not sure about the others.

Wilsynet, I'm sorry my experience bothers you so much that you needed to
publicly ridicule my comments and share your own experience without
providing the system context for which the pieces were incorporated. I guess
if we all had exactly the same ears then these threads would be superfluous
but this is not the case and constructive forum contributors offer their own
experiences which will likely never be 100% equal in setup to the
OP...and...we're not even talking about room, power quality, and other
environmental differences...but I guess you already knew that. This is not to
take anything away from the PS Audio PWD Mk2 which I've also heard in my
current setup but again did not find as engaging or musical as the Metrum
Octave. Anyway, since you feel you're the only one who's opinion matters, it
appears that the OP can stop looking since the definitive expert on all things
DAC related (none other than yourself of course) has spoken.

Jcote: I should have used more measured language, and I apologize for that. I'm not taking away anything from your view on things, and certainly my opinions are not the only ones that count.

I certainly have made no claim that my opinion is authoritative. My broader point is that clinical versus musical could have been ascribed to the speakers, the amplifier, the preamplifier, etc, not to the DAC. And so to draw a conclusion regarding the DAC when all of those other components have changed, I think that's quite the stretch ...

But let me again apologize for my inappropriate and impolitic language. That's not fair to you and was not reasonable for me to have done.

And the LINN Akurate DS would sound better than any of those units...