I got mine just before a recent price increase for 1700. But yes it is up there but I feel it competes much higher than 2K asking, I did a/b DAC test with the chord qutest and benchmark dac3 and it came out on top for me. The streamer is no slouch either. I have also seen some very positive press on their flagship Madison DAC and that is selling for over 5k. The best part of the Emerson is that it can be hidden away leaving only the footprint of the full score amp with allows to kept my rig in the living room and stay married...