The big Ragnarok below sure puts the enormous Theta into perspective.

Just to confirm, output 2 is recommended for most DACs that are compatible. If not, use the RCA shorting plug in output 2 if the # 1 output is to be used. This applies to RCA and BNC. Please forgive if this is what you're  doing already.

Yeah. I used shorting plug on 2 using #1.

Tonight, I tried output #2 on the AGD CD7 and it actually worked. With BNC out from #2, the result is better than #1. Seems cleaner, crisper, more space between notes. No more slight hollow coloration. More microdynamics and more involving. Compared to the Data III, also using BNC this time around, the CD-7 is a bit more mid-bassy and lacking air. Still lacks the depth and scary imaging the of the Data III. Microdynamics and plankton still better on the Data III. I figure the depth aspect may not have been as pronounced with the Master 7 as stage depth as never a Master 7 strong suit - whereas depth and soundstage basic is the Gen V's stronger strength over all others (Gen V is more resolving than M7 too).

As Anax said, keep in mind the Marantz I have is no slouch as it beat a higher model. I cut power to analog, d/a board, and headout boards; leaving only display, CD mechanism, and digital output. I also bonded pieces of metal to strategic points on the drive mechanism and the chassis. Power transformers were mounted on rubber washers. Dynamat throughout including wrapped over the crystal.

I'll give the balanced AES3 a shot to see if the Gen V can keep up with the OR5 this way. Too bad I can't get the ST optical to work. Maybe bad cable.

Yep, AT&T was a Mike thing. Hand-polished glass fiber, checked individually under a microscope.

Might be worth bringing back. Much better than doing the I2S over HDMI thing and hoping the HDMI guys keep winking at you, rather than enforcing their fees.

Funny, I was just thinking about that.

Yggy definitely won't ship with any AT&T capability when it (finally, hallelujah) starts shipping.

However, the entire input board is modular and can be replaced. ST could conceivably take the place of coax or BNC with no changes in the rear panel. Financial hit would be small to moderate (depending on the bandwidth of the ST receiver we used.)

The one big, hairy but is: what about the source? I guess if we committed to ST, we'd have to provide a source...and that's where things can get really interesting. Network-based? Disk-spinner? Both? Software (barf)? Upgrades? Support?

Or maybe we just do a source with I2S over HDMI and DNLA and Bluetoof Crapt-X and all the stuffs peoples is talking about these days? Because you know that as soon as we do a transport, they'll want to see if it can connect to their phone and network and their Chingadera 3000 DAC.

Lots of questions there. So, no commitment. More to discuss.

Ready to order a yggy when it hits the site. ST connection sounds interesting, but how would you best use it with a computer based player?