Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi Mattenshilp..interesting.. Here's my take. Stop worrying about the gear! First just wait for the PSA Directstream. I should have mine Tuesday ( I also have PWD MKII) I suspect it will be shockingly good from all accounts, and looking at more expensive Dac's it this point doesn't make sense.

From looking at the pics of your system you need to setup what you have correctly. The Vienna's are WAY to close to the back wall for starters, I can't tell but the spacing between them looks off.

You also need at the very least to get drapes or something over all the glass around and behind your speakers. Are there any carpets on the floor? Your room needs work much more than you need to buy more expensive gear. Just throwing money at better gear without addressing the room and setup makes little sense. I can 100% guarantee you that you haven't even heard just how good what you already own sounds!

You mentioned a Shunyata hydra av.. Good choice.. Have you done dedicated AC lines? Huge upgrade for small dollars, and the absolute foundation of a great system.

There are numerous tweaks you could do to get your system really dialed in.. Tweaks that would be fairly inexpensive..

Keep in mind it's Speakers/placement > Room> and then everything else!

I'm also in central-ish NJ glad to help if I can :-)

Excellent advice from Erikminer!

Try the Tentation CD Player by EERA $12k.

Audio Note DAC 5.

All well made points.
I am sharing the room with my wife as our office.
I have done all I can (there is now a carpet) with WAF being a major issue.
Speakers are as far out as permissible, window treatments will happen when in the budget and to her style and design, spacing is even.

Electrical is scheduled but I don't want to go too crazy since this will not be the system's final room. My AC is very clean as I live in the suburbs and have very few houses on my local grid.

I want to improve what I can. If I didn't compromise in the room I am in, I would have nothing at all.

Of course, room acoustics is much more impactful. But I have to make due with my restrictions and enjoy what I have.

But each and every point you made is correct, valid and accurate.