Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Updated list (these are my serious considerations at this time):

T&F - Isis/Ra
Avalon - Isis/Time
BMC - Arcadia
Joseph Audio - Pearl 3
Avantgarde - Duo Grosso
Vandy - 7
Marten - Coltan

Rowen looks interesting. But unavailable in the U.S.

Backes & Mullet also looks interesting. But I can't read German so the web site is tough to navigate and it looks to me like their speakers have either rear ports or rear facing passive radiators. I don't think that would work.

Ypsilon Phaeton - neither the website nor the U.S. Ypsilon distributor have a speaker listed for Ypsilon. No Phaeton to be found.

JBL - I remember hearing JBL systems a few times. I found them to be dynamic and big but lack subtlety and refinement.

TBG used to own Tidal Contriva Diaceras a few years back and loved them then. I recall his enthusiastic post where he said they were the only speakers he knew that presented no compromises.

A buddy in Holland just got the new Tidal Flagship L'Assoluta and is loving them. They have diamond drivers everywhere and he says they are absolutely transparent. Tidal seems to be one serious speaker company.

Gear, the MM3s are HUGE. They show with Dart gear here in Geneva, so I know them well enough. Beasts.

Matt what about the MM Mini2??? That is super as well and I have heard them in a whole day session last Feb with Dart gear. Much smaller footprint and same house sound and the big and little brothers.

Failing that...Vapor Perfect storm or Derecho?

Tidal are all rear ported. So they are out.

Vapor Perfect storm is too big, they are huge. Derecho is a lower model. The Joule would be the one that fits my room.

Salk SS10 is in the same genre as the Vapor Joule although I don't honestly think that either the Joule or the SS10 is in the same class as the others I'm looking at.

The MM3 is their reference level speaker. Although I loved it, I liked the sound of the Marten Coltrane Tenor more. And I am trying to find a speaker without a powered woofer.

Although I love sound of the Avantgarde, it really is designed to sound best with a very good low power SET amp (or low powered solid state like the First Watt) and it has a powered woofer. With a low power SET, the powered woofer makes sense. With my powerful Burmesters that have world class low frequency performance using a powered woofer makes no sense.

I have a pair of Nola Metro Grand Reference Gold speakers coming on Sunday. Which is good because I crated up my Muzik's and my MM3's, and I returned all the other speakers I had. So I am actually speakerless right now.
The Metro's are rear ported. But the dealer and manufacturer feel that since the woofers are two small, very fast 6.5" woofers, that the rear port will not interact as poorly with my room. I'm not sure I believe that, but they are willing to put them in my room to prove it. They are very aware that I am skeptical, but I certainly won't argue as they are supposed to be great speakers. Also, if I do like the voicing but the woofer ports are an issue, the next larger model up (The Baby Grand Reference Gold, which is still a reasonable size for my room) are sealed enclosures. They are, of course, also twice as expensive.

Matt, I wish I had your direct contact info. More efficient, but so be it.

Best for AG speakers will be a very fast high bandwidth SS amp like a Goldmund Job225 or Telos. I know becuase of a good Boston pal who hated his AG Duos for years till he accidentally borrowed an amp from a mutual pal. Now for the first time in years he is loving it.

As the bass was powered, it didnt make sense, because for the first time the bass was keeping up with the horns. When I spoke to the AG guy at the Zurich show, he said it made sense as the bass amps ONLY cover up to 150hz and the rest is being done by the main amp.

The Ypsilon speakers sounded exceptional. Look at the pictures on the 6Moons Zurich show coverage link I posted above. Short write up at theaudiotraveler.com as well.

EA has a MM7 which is their new Top of the line. Same as MM3 but with Bass drivers added on top....even more HUGE.

If you can somehow find the Phaeton, grab a listen!

Thanks for the fast feedback.