I don't consider myself an expert on a par with an audiophile magazine reviewer or any such, but I spent some years gigging, some time behind the mixer, and did mobile DJ as well. So for whatever my subjective take on SQ might be worth, the DS has exceeded my expectations and even my hopes. It has been pushed hard, too, and whether sotto voce or firewalled it is solid and articulate. I have not regretted the purchase for a second.