Thank you, very interesting to see what Paul recommends.
The new Audioquest hdmi cables all feature 48 after them for 48mbps. The only non 48 models are the eARC witch seem to be geared toward sound bars and the audio return channel. The eARC has substantially less silver then its 48 sibling models which is part of the reason they are much cheaper.
Why would anybody pay those ridiculous prices to cover their advertising budget when you can buy a comparable cable from Wireworld and other sources for a fraction of the price?
I have finally taken the time to listen and compare a file that I ripped to FLAC and then converted to DSD64 with dBpoweramp.
I am comparing a song from Boz Scaggs from his album Dig. King Of El Paso. First I played the DSD64 version. Then the 16.44.1 Flac. Can’t hear a difference using the MBL N31 DAC. It sounds exactly the same.
This was using the Roon functionality inside the N31 that takes its feed in via Ethernet from the server source. Now I am listening again from my Signature Rendu Optical feeding the N31 via a Stealth Audio USB cable.
I am listening to DSD64 first. Now the Flac. Aha, I hear a difference. In the DSD64 version the channels are reversed. I didn’t notice it the first time so I went back and checked. The female background singer is biased towards the right on the Flac and on the left with the DSD. I don’t recall asking for the swap, I wonder what did it.
Anyway, with my current setup I see no audible advantage to converting from Flac to DSF. That’s not to say it isn’t worthwhile on your system, or that you won’t hear a difference.
I suppose I could try Ripping to DSF. I think I may leave well enough alone.
Same here. Has anyone tried the I2S reversing switch? I have not, but will give it a try!
Edit: I turned the Matrix’ I2S dip switch off, and this stoped reversing Direct Stream DAC channels when playing DSD files 
Thanks for your feedback @aangen - I’ll have to do more comparisons myself again. Maybe I jumped the gun with my initial impressions!
Thank you for the report and assessment.
It is always interesting what makes a difference and what does not.
And being honest with yourself if there is no difference. That is the really hard part of comparisons.
No kidding. I want to hear a difference if it takes effort or money. And I want it to be better!
I think if there is a difference good or bad you notice it in the first few seconds of listening. After that I think you start to get used to the change and it begins to become the new normal unless it is really a step backwards.
Unfortunately music playback can’t be measured with a stopwatch or a scale so it becomes a sensual experience that is extremely personal and not universally “better” or “worse” with systemic changes.
My gear at the moment isn’t really high end and the room is not treated but every time I turn the music on the first notes that come out of the speakers make me smile.
If your system makes you smile you have everything you need. 
I find the most reliable and telling difference is when I take the change back out of the system and return to the original.
That’s the goal and the reward, for sure…
What confounds me though is when I can go from a ho-hum session to a “big fat grin on my face” session, without making any discernible changes to the system (kit, volume, listening position, etc.).
I think I might start keeping a journal to track some key “variables” when everything seems “just right” or “not quite right”. That wouldn’t make me (more) obsessive would it? 
That is certainly true. The same music on the same system on different days can sound very different. I think that is just one of the drawbacks to being a human being. We are such complicated organic systems that some days are just simply better than others for a myriad of unknowable reasons.
I bet this is the explanation, even though we seek out external causes.
Speaking of causal, before I had a PowerPlant the time of time made a difference because of the changes in power. With a PowerPlant these time differences have disappeared.
Yeah, I am familiar with the “dead of night” audio nirvana phenomenon.
Interestingly enough, I added a Stellar P3 Regenerator to my system and plugged my main sources into it.
II have to say that doing so did not result in a “Wow!” in terms of my response to its efficacy. I do believe there has been an incremental improvement, just not enough to eliminate my perception that late night/very early morning listening sessions still have more to offer.
Perhaps, I need to get some regeneration in front of my 500 WPC mono block amplifiers (which are currently plugged directly into my 20-Amp service via standard receptacles) in order to enjoy the reputed material benefit of PSA regenerators?
Same here and I have really crappy incoming power. The power plants were an instant audible improvement as was changing out the power cords for the power plants. Fun hobby.
I’ll bet you would notice a difference if you put a power plant in front of the power amps.
It may or may not be a “wow” but it would at least be an “oh yeah”.
It is (a used P-10, that is) on the list. 
you mean this: Yello - Oh Yeah (Official Video) - YouTube
I use a hillbilly method of shopping for high quality stereo bits. If they seldom come up on the used market that is a good indicator to me of the quality of the piece. Power plants are in that group.