Yes, I’m, too and need no sweeteners. Just imagine you could losslessly fit the speaker to your room an/or setup. This could also go in a different direction than „sweetening“, e.g. if you need a tad more treble energy.
The question is, how do purists without an active speaker match the sound when they get a new component (or just a firmware) that slightly but noticeably differs in tonality? Both cases, if they then select a different, better matching component or if they match the first with different cabling, they kind of leave the purist path (but don’t think so)
Indeed, that’s at least the theory and practice matches it the more, the better and more transparent the setup gets. Anyway, fact is, if you try 10 DAC’s, you have 20 different characteristics (assumed one of them also offers 10 different firmwares in its lifetime).
I was one of that part of people who never had problems with changing tonality of a PS Audio firmware, but there were many others who either didn’t use the one or other release or had quite some trouble getting their system in perfect shape again afterwards. And that was only firmware for the same DAC. One shouldn’t change a “transparent” PSAudio DAC into a “transparent” Chord DAC and hope he can otherwise leave the setup as it was.
After a certain price point I find the similarities in DAC performance makes it a lot less troublesome. I would be very surprised to find a DAC that makes me really sit up and take notice. I have a Mola Mola Tambaqui on the way that I am glad to finally get to hear. Like most DACs, it is reaching for that “It seems nice” plateau. At the same time I am buying a used DSD MK1, unmodified. I already know it seems nice. Very easy to listen to. I am not certain I have ever met a DAC I didn’t appreciate in one way or another. They are easier to live with than fuses.
The fuse experience is interesting as it’s a topic where I so far just experienced better/worse differences, not so much different tonality. With DAC’s on the other hand I see a quite wide bandwidth between let’s say a Lampizator and a Chord and all what’s inbetween. And going back (e.g. to a stock Mk I) is always nearly impossible for me. I wish I wouldn’t suffer from this illness . It’s certainly all a question how much one needs to get all of it it to the point or not.
I concur. Redcloud has always provided the most enjoyment for me as well. I tried the MkII DAC but, due to the lack of a preamplifier in my system, the noise floor was too high to be usable so it went back. Now that I have a preamp, I might try again.
I recognized the technical improvements as the firmware evolved and realized that it was getting better in some respects. But it wasn’t until I started reloading certain of the past iterations that it dawned on me that I preferred them. Different strokes, I guess.
Should you try the MkII again you may find it more to your liking now that you have the preamp in the equation.
My experience was similar jazznut. As each new firmware version was released, I just found myself hearing greater detail and focus on an increasingly ‘blacker’ canvas. Consequently, I’m happy with Sunlight.
Thanks!
Snowmass really had me. I saved them all, I need to visit them again. The only DACs that let you do that are PS Audio DACs. I fully appreciate this.
