Combak Corporation's Reimyo CDP-777 received a rave review from AS in Issue 29. Combining the structural and vibrational theories that underpin the Harmonix accessories with the established JVC 20bit K2 converter technology employed to create the highly regarded XRCD discs, it redefined his expectations of the silver disc. There again, you might respond, at £9500 so it damn well should. And you'd have a point.
Of course, the other problem with products that rewrite your personal rulebook is that, by definition, it becomes difficult to place them in a meaningful overall context. So, having received the full effect of Alan's enthusiasm, undiluted by the intervention of the written word (and the opportunity it offers for reflection) it seemed sensible to investigate further. Which is when the notion of reviewing the Reimyo DAC first entered my head. I mean, good as the CDP-777 undoubtedly is, it's also pretty expensive, putting it beyond the reach of all but a lucky few. The DAC on the other hand, is considerably more affordable while promising similar care in its physical construction and the same digital to analogue electronics. At £3200, give or take a few pence, it promises stellar sound and the potential for even better value: especially as the £2500 to £3500 bracket looks set to become the hot price range for serious CD replay.
Like most DACs, the DAP-777 is housed in a slim casework: Unlike most, it's far from featureless.

Beside the on/off switch, a four-position rotary switch on the left of the front-panel selects from the four available inputs. There are, in order: an AES/EBU balanced XLR input, a 75 Ohm BNC, a 75 Ohm co-axial RCA/phono and a Tos-link optical input. A row of four green LEDs shows you which one you've selected. Next to those are another three indicators showing pre-emphasis, data lock and any errors. A final bank of three LEDs tells you which of the three available sampling frequencies is currently in use. And before you get all excited and start thinking high bit-rate signals, this is a straight Red Book DAC, so your options are 48K, 44.1K and 32K. That translates to CD and DAT. If you expect the DAP-777 to update your digital front-end(s) then you are going to be sadly disappointed. If however, you want to maximise your pleasure from CD replay, that is quite another matter.
The back panel offers the required socketry for the four different inputs, along with a choice of RCA/phono or balanced XLR analogue outputs. There's also an IEC mains input, a chassis ground connection (which I found necessary in order to achieve hum free operation in my system) and a small toggle switch that allows you to reverse absolute phase. Note that this is a one-time setting rather than the front-panel fiddle switch that you so often find on DACs. The cynic in me suggests that

they're more a result of desperate designers trying to find something, anything to interest potential buyers, than because they are necessary or really useful. I'll take the Reimyo approach every time thanks.
The other thing to notice about the DAP-777 is the simple elegance of its casework. You might not normally look at the underside of a product but it's worth it this time. Not only is there the neatness of the fittings to consider, but the beautifully turned composite feet whose conical profile engages a set of large, cupped discs supplied with the player. But impressive as the casework is, it's only a taster for what's inside.
At the heart of the digital processor is the same JVC 20bit K2 chipset found in the CDP-777. It takes the 16bit input signal and converts it to 20bit resolution with 8x over-sampling. A good starting point, it nonetheless depends for its results on the way it's implemented. There are no guarantees in audio, and fewer still in digital audio. Lift the lid on the Reimyo and you'll begin to appreciate what care and attention to detail really means. There are the obligatory separate power supplies for the digital and analogue sections, but it's the execution that really stands out. Each element is a work of art, linked by bespoke wiring. There may be better-built products out there but I've not seen one. Bear in mind too, that much of >