The Lite CD 15 is the slowest CD player I have ever seen in my life. While Jeff thought that this exuded confidence, I saw it as a minor annoyance that it should take 10 seconds for a drawer to close and another 10 seconds to index a CD. (Okay, after recent soul searching, I am exaggerating - Its more like 1 second in, and 1.5 seconds to find the TOC - but it is deliberate, I mean it does suck CDs in like a vacuum cleaner) All the time, I wonder if it worth the wait.

Well, it is. This has to be the smoothest CD player under $500 and now serves as my reference when the DAC 68 is out on loan. That’s right, I don’t use a DAC 60, even though it has the technically superiors PCM-1704UK chip. I prefer the smoothness and detail that comes across in the multi -tiered sampling of the Lite architecture and AD 1835 chip set. I have not heard the modified DAC 60, what I am told of this mod, is that it brings the DAC 60 more in line with the DAC 68 plus an extended low end. The Lite CD 15 presents a formidable sound stage and I agree with all of Jeff’s comments on its tonal accuracy. It does have a “British” sound as does the DAC 68. Both of these products present like the EL34 tube does – uncanny detail in the midrange, smooth high end and polite low end. The DAC 60 has more of a USA sound, and sounds like a 6550 – articulated in the midrange, nice mid bass and punchy low end.If you cannot afford the DAC 68 and if the noise floor of the DAC 68 bothers you, you will not be sorry with the Lite CD -15 CD player.

My Reference System & Listening Bias

My Reference System includes:

• Lite Audio DAC 68
• Pacific Valve Modified DAC 60
• Lite Audio CD-15 CD Player
• XianSheng D-2020A Kt88 Integrated Amplifier
• Pacific Valve Modified LS27 Preamp
• Lite Audio T62 Amp
• Acoustat Spectra 11
• Infinity 360
• Aurum Cantas
• Various Interconnects

I bias toward the midrange. I favor detail and spatial dimension over tonal balance. So, I favor equipment that gets the midrange right over a tight low end. I am biased toward tube preamps over tube amps. I like hybrid amps. I do not favor a bright top end. The top end for me has to be very smooth otherwise I do not like what I am listening to.