The dac9 is a splendid dac. I used to use the dac in my Esoteric. The audio research brings the "tube" sound into the equation. The overall presentation is more liquid and smoother then the Esoteric, but the Esoteric has a better grip on the bottom end. I'm ok sacrificing that for the overall smoothness the dac9 offers. The Esoteric seems to have more of a digital edge, compared to the dac9. The dac9 has a variety of digital inputs that the Esoteric doesn't implement. Overall, the flexibility and smoothness of the dac9 is what I prefer, in my system. YMMV IMG_1481465874.299258.jpg
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Florida
Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp
Dan D'Agostino Momentum Phono Preamp
Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV x 3
Dan D'Agostino Momentum S250
dCS Vivaldi Apex DAC
dCS Vivaldi Upsampler
dCS Vivaldi Clock
Wilson Audio Alexia 2, Yvette & Mezzo
REL No.32 x 2
REL Carbon Special x 2
AVID Acutus Ref SP, Roon Nucleus+
McIntosh MX151, MVP881
HRS SXR Signature Audio Stand
Transparent Gen5Ref throughout!
New York
Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp
Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV x 2
dCS Rossini Dac
dCS Rossini Clock
Wilson Audio Alexia 2
REL No.25 x 2
Roon Nucleus+
Transparent Gen5Ref throughout!
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