Musical Fidelity A324 DAC as good as Tellig says?

Who knows (I wouldn't), it may be. You'll just have to go and listen. But keep two things in mind until then: Tellig is, and always has been, the foremost cheerleader for this brand; and even he hasn't compared every available option out there when he declares something to be unbeatable, either for the money or even flat-out (in his totally unbiased opinion, of course). I enjoy Sam as much as the next guy, and have even profitably taken his advice into consideration on occasion. But if this hobby is about anything at all, it's about system synergy and personal preferences. In my system, the digital front-end started with a mass-market CD player, went to a mid-fi CDP with a digital out, then to an outboard DAC, then a better digital IC, then a jitter-box, then a dedicated transport, and then I added a balanced PLC, and I've been rewarded with improved sound at each step. Now I've just bought an "umsampling" DAC to audition against my reference, and we'll see if history repeats itself. You'll probably stay curious if you don't find a way to compare your own reference against the "latest and greatest" for yourself, and the MF might well be as good a place to start as any. Sorry not to be of any *real* help, but I do wish you the best of luck!

I don't have my N803s biamped currently but I did try a single A3cr power amp and it has a great, transparent sound but it just ran out of steam at anything above a modest volume. I have also tried the A3dac and you will get better (larger, richer, more open) sound with a better one box unit like the Linn Ikemi, Meridian 508-24 or Krell KAV-280cd. I have also heard good things about the Audio Aero (not Aeros) Prima. Personally I would keep your CD player, get a second A3cr power amp, upgrade to the REL Storm III (the Strata is great but the 803s can go pretty low and would really benefit from the Storm) and just enjoy the wonderful sound your system can make, which I'm sure you already do.

Don’t trust the review. Instead of bringing your CD transport to the store, I suggest you borrow one for extensive home trial. This is the only way you can be sure if you will like it.

I had a dealer tell me it was good but nothing out of the ordinary for the price. I know they have also had some reliability problems with the unit. I have been told the Bel Canto DAC-2 is better but everything comes down to listening in your system.

Bob, I still think your weakest link is your CDd player. I know of another cool thing you can think of doing for your system. If you email me I'll go over some of that stuff. It, so you have an idea, has to do with a LC. I can also give you more info about the Audio Aero Prima CD player which I do believe will set you free.
warren