The best way I can describe it goes something like this.

I read about 24/96 recordings, and noticed that they were huge compared to FLAC files, freely traded on the Internet from repositories at bt.etree.org.

I saw an ad for the Dragonfly by Audioquest, version 1.2, and it was much better than the original version, and it cost $150. In my world, $150 is an amount that would take four months of saving a little each month. That is what is called a "Dream".

Then I noticed that a newer, even better Dragonfly was on the market, and I got my 'old' version for $79.

It was like reading your first book, not required by school. It opened my mind, it made me want to read more.

Then the Audioquest folks had to replace my defective version 1.2, and I discovered that it had been defective from the start, cause what I was hearing was the First Time, even though I had heard the recordings many times over the years, familiar with every note.

After all, was it even possible to imagine anything better than 24/96?

I read about the Schiit Modi2 for $99, (plus $23 shipping)

But it was worth it. I was hearing details that had me gobsmacked.

And I discovered 24/176 and 24/192!

The naysayers will say our ears can only hear '16 bit/44.1 Redbook SBE standard' CD quality. And furthermore, you cannot hear any difference between a MP3 at 192 (high) and 320 (insanely high) sample rates, they will add with confidence as they plug the stock earplugs, that came with his phone in their ears and smiles.

To continue with the metaphor of the reading a book, the Modi2 was finding the Library ,where with a small key tag, you could check out up to 10 music CDs and rip them into lossless FLAC files and build your own digital music library.

You could also download freely-traded Grateful Dead soundboard recordings in FLAC files using bit-torrent technology, developed in part by the same Deadheads that designed FLAC, and built the Internet in the first place...but I digress.

Today, arrived the iFi nano iDSD LE and I am listening to every recording for THE FIRST TIME.

Now we have my head exploding.

~The Music is Magical.

You understand that, for the past 40 years, you have listened to these songs, but until this very moment, you had never HEARD them.

At $129, this device is a MUST HAVE addition to any "Computer Audiophile on the Cheap*" home stereo system.

*-"Computer Audiophile on the Cheap" is a philosophy. Make the Stereo you have sound as good as possible. We extol Vintage Electronics, legendary Loudspeakers, and some in-expensive tweaks that will give you the SQ (Sound Quality) of a system that costs others Thousands of Dollars to best. It is also my Thread and my blog on ComputerAudiophile.com.