I've enjoyed this machine but it has failed to work on 3 occasions. Today I had to attempt it 4 times to get it to work - shutting it down and re-starting 4 times before a CD would play. This is the third such event in as many months. I'm not happy, especially with the money I paid.

I have owned the Unison Research CDE for over a year, It has the optional DAC. I initially had to send it back as it had hum coming from the transformer when using the optional DAC. It was repaired under warranty.

I have 7 Digital players. Let me say this is the most natural sounding Digital player I've heard. The optional Dac is a step up from the std. Dac. Built like a tank this player has "musicality" in spades and none of the etched digital sound that plagues the majority of digital players. The dimensionality from this player is mind-blowing, while it has a "relaxed" sound it is also able to rock with the best of them. It's ability to draw you into the music is second to none, hugely involving, with great timing it bests any player in it's price bracket and some I've heard costing a lot more.

So if you are in the market for a CD player that can bring you closer to a live musical experience rather than the etched, analytical sound that somehow some people prefer, then I highly recommend the Unison Research CDE with the optional Dac mandatory.

Note: Have no idea why the product year won't go past 2010, this is a 2014 model.