Thanks for your insights. It’s funny that we both basically had the same thoughts on the Bartok but came out with different outcomes. I did find that the bartok had a lot more resolution, clarity and I guess I would also say liveliness. Music felt a lot more engaging compared to the DSD. Even though I like the DSD, the bartok to my ears made it seem sluggish and distorted. I’m probably not using the best terms but that is what I came up with.
Looks like I need to also look into the DA2.