I have yet to hear a digital front end that can compete with a well set up TT. Yep, digital can sound real good.......and I really enjoy my recordings and releases. Actually, Im very lucking to engineer and record multi-track sessions with national and international artist and get some really nice recordings, while getting paid for it. Really, at times, I can't believe that I get paid to do what I do....when I would do it for free. But that is another story. However............analog runs supreme in my home and vinyl creates more of a real sense of instruments, timbre, dimension and engagement.
But I understand that for others it does not and for what good digital can offer is more to their ultimate liking.
Regarding DSD, I will most likely never have an interest in chasing that format or buying a processor that offers that as a selling feature. I don'r record in it and don't listen to it in its playback form. Higher rez PCM is what I use and mix down to.
That being said, I have heard great things about the Teac model from other professionals and it too seems to be a great value. Now that the ESS/Sabre chips have been out a bit longer and have been used in the field people seem to be getting more of an idea of what they like about it and its short comings. Again, it is most likely more dependent on how the chip is implemented than the chip. I won't comment since I never had any longer term exposure to it. Actually, I only have had limited listening to a device using that chip and it sounded pretty nice to me.
Anyway, I hope I have as positive experience with the new mini i as I did with the older model. If it ups the the sound even marginally it would prove to be a slam dunk recommendation and a force to be reckoned with at its price point. $375 with shipping for what it offers in flexibility, sound and construction is just plan silly. I compared the original mini-i to a hot-rodded MSB gold link and quickly sold my MSB after feeling that the mini i was at least as good as, if not better.....plus it had way more features than the MSB. I also made a few hundred on the transaction.
So, let's see if after this is burned in, if it adds to the already proven value of the mini i.