In summary, we are basically a technology company who just happened to be in the high end audio business.
I'm glad the discussion is being received in a constructive manner, but this type of response is exactly what confirms my concerns.
If we're talking about more affordable items with great value for money, then I already know there will be compromises to be made.
It's a different story if we're talking about $4,000-$5,000 a piece, then it's not just the sound that matters, but also factors like implementation, customer service, and brand prestige.
Saying you happened to find yourself in the high-end segment is an implicit admission that you don't belong in that segment, and therefore, as a customer, I might feel cheated of that status.
The leap in quality and aesthetics between Nuforce and Nuprime was very clear. When I switched to the Dac10h + St10 pair, I was convinced I'd gotten a bargain; the quality/price ratio for sound and performance was exceptional.
With the St10m, the feeling was even greater, but then the weirdness began.
Phase reversed without understanding why, no trigger, annoying having to turn on two other devices after spending 5 seconds waiting for the DAC to turn on, and normally the monos are out of the rack, removed from the list after a short while because they're too good?
Keeping costs low without "paying" for fake positive reviews can be helpful, but at least the effort to keep discussion alive on the forums is worthwhile, because as I said in another post, you can't add a new $3,000+ streamer to the catalog and only you know about it...