[mresseguie]

Anybody willing to ship their X20U to CO for measurements?  I'll pay for shipping both ways.

My wife and I will be in Colorado Springs from June 22nd until July 14. Unless disaster strikes, I will have my X20 with me. [Hint. Hint.]

[restrav]

well if redbook playback is all you want. there is a dblabs Tranquility signature edition on audiogon.

[restrav]

oh i just checked and it sold for 450.

[James Romeyn]

Another edit to the OP, sorry!

Sum total list of required features (all other features irrelevant):

•    New
•    Red Book
•    One coax input
•    One optical input
•    One L/R pair fixed level balanced analog outputs (unbalanced degrades integrated amp performance) 

[ACHiPo]

I got my X20U from Forexguys on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUSTARD-DAC-X20U-Super-Ultimate-HIFI-DAC-2xES9018-XMOS-USB-384KHZ-DSD64-128-256-/111708547958

Good communication and fast shipping (free) from China.

I'd have trouble parting with my Gustard as my TWL PCs just arrived.  I think Marty might have 2 and willing to part with one for a while?  What measurments are you proposing, Jason?

The X20U has variable balanced output, but I'm running it maxed out into my preamp.

[ACHiPo]

I ordered my Gustard X20 from Worthy Audio as well.

I noticed the price has dropped down to as low as $769 on Amazon. EDIT: My apologies. It was not Amazon; it was Shenzhenaudio.com. I just checked and the price is $799.98. There had been a $769 price somewhere....Alliexpress? Dunno.

Careful as the units below $869 that I've seen are not "U", so don't have USB, but that doesn't sound like a problem for James?

[James Romeyn]

Schiit Yggdrasil:

http://schiit.com/products/yggdrasil

Here is a decent review as well: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/670-schiit-audio-yggdrasil-multibit-dac-review/

Best,
Anand.

Ps. I trust you can stretch your budget to $2300 bro...and don't forget used Auralic Vega's which pop up on the market every now and then.

Anand,
Wow, amazing review, compared well w/his $15k favorite DAC.  I like the $37k/pr TAD CR1 speakers he uses.  Did you hear this DAC?  Nice that it's US made.   

Thanks! 

Resonessence in a couple weeks starts delivery of their new $2800 Veritas DAC.  First to market with all new SABRE chip, coming latter in other OEMs.  Temporary free upgrade choose from 3-4 anodize colors.  Gorgeous chassis milled from solid billet for this price class (displayed at AXPONA).   

[jtwrace]

Good dac with the exception of the glitch issue that has been well documented on CA as well.  Pass. 

[James Romeyn]

Good dac with the exception of the glitch issue that has been well documented on CA as well.  Pass.

Thanks, Jason.  You mean the Schiit Yggdrasil, right? 

[jtwrace]

Thanks, Jason.  You mean the Schiit Yggdrasil, right?

Yes.

[James Romeyn]

$1895 available in May.

http://www.prismsound.com/hifi/products_subs/dac1/dac1_home.php

Friend went to 2016 Newport, heard this DAC several times, and bought it.  Looking forward to hearing it latter when I visit SF Bay Area. 

Earlier he was hot for W4S's DAC and the soon to be released $2800 Resonessence Veritas (all new Sabre DAC chip also used in the latest $8k Ayre DAC).  Unfortunately both vendors were unaccommodating, they lost a five star potential client, and he sent his green backs across the pond to England.

 

[dave_c]

If you don't need hi res formats, Lite DAC 83 would be a great choice: 
http://www.cattylink.com/page404.html

Review:
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2011/01/lite-dac-83-4-x-burr-brown-pcm1704uk/

[RoadTripper]

My Yggdrasil is living up to the hype. I'm using it with FLAC only from either my server via WiFi and through JRiver or, primarily, via Tidal using the Amarra interface. I'm strictly going, for now, with USB  out of my Macbook Pro to the Yggy. I'm not aware of any glitches.

Schiit's stance on Redbook (versus other formats especially DSD) is well documented. I'd head over to head-fi.org and read the reams of info, reviews, opinions both on the Yggy and the company (Schiit) itself.

With shipping and tax (for Californians) it will go over the 2K by around $500.