The reviews of the DCS Verdi and the Auralic processors in the January and February 2014 Stereophiles make interesting reading. Having heard a DCS stack once, it is clear that Meridian is not the only digital way for SOTA sound. Of couse the proof is in the D2A since none of us actually listen to digital sound; perhaps DCS and Auralic are both really good at D2A and the digital format is incidental?

To listen to DSD content via a Meridian system surely all one needs is an SACD player capable of decoding to PCM or a USB device capable of receiving downloaded DSD (the latest Oppos do all this and more) plus an HD621. Meridian have a solution so the content is not unaccessable, it's just that the decoding to PCM is not done in their hardware - not a problem for me.

If the argument is purely about which approach is 'best', which must surely be accompanied by a decision about available content, than that is a personal investment choice.

That fantasy USB to SPDIF device I've been whittering about elsewhere just gained the capability to decode DSD to PCM smile

In the spirit of Spinaltap, I would like to confirm that I am not involved in the corrupt theft of a global sport.